He purifies people from their sins, and both he and those who are made pure all have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his family. [Hebrews 2:11 HCSB]
I have found the purification from sin to be an ongoing process. We have been purified. We are being purified. And we will be purified. It is a process of transforming maturation. Each time we follow the Holy Spirit's lead He purifies us a bit more. With each step of faith we become more like Jesus.
Disobedience brings shame. We sin and feel the shame of how our actions impact those around us. Shame is a powerful dynamic in life. Yet when God looks at us he sees past our shame. Past our sin. He sees us as saints purified from shameful deeds. Jesus sees us as spiritual brothers and sisters.
In like manner it is our obligation to see ourselves and those in our spiritual family with the eyes of Christ. We must resist the urge to identify our spiritual brothers and sisters as 'sinners'. They are, like us, in a process of purification. We must not be ashamed of these saints of God.
Forgive me Lord for all of the times that I cast shame on your children.
... this devotion is part of a series about the book of Hebrews.
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