20 Days With the Lord’s Prayer Day 4: Our Heavenly Father’s name is holy.

“In this manner, therefore, 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 this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬-‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Recently, I saw a commentator on TV talking with great emotion about something someone had said about them. Now, this person, being a prominent commentator, is accustomed to having a lot of bad things said about them. But this comment was different. What had this person so upset about this particular comment was the fact that the person had made fun of their last name.

You see, we are inextricably connected to our names and come to see our name as part of us. When someone makes fun of our name, it feels personal. And it is.

In the model prayer that Jesus gave us, we see that when we pray to our heavenly Father, we are to recognize the holiness of His name: “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.”

Honoring the name of the Lord is not a new concept. As a matter fact, one of the Ten Commandments addresses treatment of the Lord‘s name.

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Taking the Lord‘s name in vain can be flippantly making an oath in His name, using His name as profanity, saying He has said something He has not said, or even living a life that reflects badly on His name.

Before Samson was born, the Angel of the Lord came to his parents to tell them how he should be raised. His father, Manoa, asked the angel of the Lord what His name was:

“Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, “Please let us detain You, and we will prepare a young goat for You.” And the Angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “Though you detain Me, I will not eat your food. But if you offer a burnt offering, you must offer it to the Lord.” (For Manoah did not know He was the Angel of the Lord.) Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, “What is Your name, that when Your words come to pass we may honor You?” And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?””

‭‭Judges‬ ‭13‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Indeed, the name of the Lord is truly wonderful. It is beyond our ability to fully grasp. No wonder the psalmist instructed that the people should glory in God‘s Holy name.

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭105‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Child of God, what a privilege it is to know that our Heavenly Father allows us to call upon His holy name. Let us never forget what a privilege it is to actually be called by His name, making sure that we are careful to do that which brings glory to His name, rather than dishonor.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!