"This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name." (Matthew 6:9). The above statement is the beginning of The Lord's Prayer. When Jesus says "Hallowed be your name," he means "Let your name be kept holy." Question. Why would Jesus petition God to keep God's name holy? There seems no reason to ask God to act in such a way that His name be kept holy--He's already perfect! Answer. The holiness of God's name isn't solely contingent on God's own actions--humans have a part to play. Let's take a look at the rest of the prayer real quick.
"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
I believe there is a pattern in this prayer. Everything God is asked to do has some relation to humanity. Even when He says "Your kingdom come, your will be done," He adds, "On earth, as it is in heaven." I believe this principle can be applied to verse nine. Jesus is asking that God's name be kept holy, not through God's own actions, but through the actions of God's people. Are you following me?
We have been called to live holy lives, not just because God desires righteous behavior. We have been given the great task of bearing God's name on earth. We are his representatives. How we represent God to people is how people will perceive Him. Whether you are interacting with Christians or non-Christians, our actions may have a direct influence on how they perceive God's holy name. I have seen a Christian lose her faith in God partly because of the things she's seen done in God's name. The way Christians have acted around her has been a driving influence in her struggle with her faith. Thankfully, God can overcome our failures and I believe He will draw her back to Him (For no one can be taken out of God's hand, and Jesus will go after His lost sheep and bring them back to the fold). However, I hope you can see the importance our actions have on the name of God. The next time you're praying, ask God that He will keep His name holy through you. And remember that no matter what happens, God is there to help us, forgive us, comfort us, guide us, and strengthen us to live our lives in a manner that is glorifying to Him.
"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
I believe there is a pattern in this prayer. Everything God is asked to do has some relation to humanity. Even when He says "Your kingdom come, your will be done," He adds, "On earth, as it is in heaven." I believe this principle can be applied to verse nine. Jesus is asking that God's name be kept holy, not through God's own actions, but through the actions of God's people. Are you following me?
We have been called to live holy lives, not just because God desires righteous behavior. We have been given the great task of bearing God's name on earth. We are his representatives. How we represent God to people is how people will perceive Him. Whether you are interacting with Christians or non-Christians, our actions may have a direct influence on how they perceive God's holy name. I have seen a Christian lose her faith in God partly because of the things she's seen done in God's name. The way Christians have acted around her has been a driving influence in her struggle with her faith. Thankfully, God can overcome our failures and I believe He will draw her back to Him (For no one can be taken out of God's hand, and Jesus will go after His lost sheep and bring them back to the fold). However, I hope you can see the importance our actions have on the name of God. The next time you're praying, ask God that He will keep His name holy through you. And remember that no matter what happens, God is there to help us, forgive us, comfort us, guide us, and strengthen us to live our lives in a manner that is glorifying to Him.
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