God’s Name is Holy

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Hallowed be Thy name” [Matthew 6.9]. Hallowed isn't a word frequently used in our vocabulary. It is usually associated with the ivy-covered walls of Yale, Cornell, Harvard, or Colgate Universities. I’m thinking that Halloween came to some of your minds, right?

Well, those are a far cry from the biblical meaning. Hallowed comes from a Greek word, which means holy/separate. In the Lord’s Prayer, “Hallowed by Thy name” could mean to regard His name as holy, or a request for God to make His name holy. Either way, it means to set it apart from all things common. To be set in the place it deserves.

A question that comes to mind is, how do we do that? How can we hallow His name, giving it the proper place it deserves?

First, we must believe He exists. The author of Hebrews wrote, “…Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists…” [11.6]. That’s where we start. 

Apart from belief, we must also have the right concept of God. Many people hallow their God/god, but is it the God of the Bible? When the Israelites bowed before the golden calf at Sinai, Aaron told them, “This is your god!” [Exodus 32.4]. The religious leaders in the days of Jesus claimed to worship the true God, but Jesus called them “children of the devil” since they disavowed God’s Word [John 8.44, 47]. A sound doctrine of God is imperative if you want to hallow His name.

Another way to hallow His name is to be aware of His presence. If we constantly think of His presence with us, we will prioritize our lives by focusing on what He wants us to do. Perhaps that’s what David had in mind when he said, “I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken” [Psalm 16.8].

Another way to hallow God’s name is by obedience. You may have an impeccable theology and be aware of His presence, but if/when you disobey Him, you have brought dishonor to His name.   

Hallowing the name of God sets you apart from all unbelievers, so let’s do it. God is holy and deserves your highest respect and your humble obedience.

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of His holiness. Psalm 29.2