God, the Proud Father

Day 316: Hebrews 11:1-16

“But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” – Hebrews 11:16 ESV

The Greek word used here for ashamed is epaischynomai. Mark uses the same word when quoting Jesus in Mark 8:38 as he wrote, “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

We know what it is like to be ashamed of association with someone else. Maybe we don’t want some of our friends to know about another group of people we are close to. Maybe you dated someone, and it went wrong, and it's still awkward when you run into them. Shame and regret flood in with a simple glance.

When it comes to His children, His faithful ones, God doesn’t shrink back when He thinks of us. He isn’t worried about his reputation being weakened. If you feel proud to tell everyone of your association with Jesus, the feeling is promised to be reciprocated.

Need proof? Check out the cast of characters that God used, as laid out in Hebrews 11. None of them were perfect. I mean, Abraham even lied about his wife twice to try and save his own life and mistreated an Egyptian slave.

T.D. Lea says it well as he wrote, “Despite the obvious failings of all these men, God was not ashamed to be called their God. He had prepared a spiritual city for them, and he was delighted to be known as their God.” – Lea, T. D. (1999). Hebrews, James (Vol. 10, p. 202)

God is getting ready for us. Are we getting ready for Him? We should be honored if everyone were to find out that we are protected children of our Heavenly Father, saved by the blood of His Son, Jesus, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.