A Clear Perspective

Honoring God’s Name does not mean having some kind of fetish about pronouncing the word “God” in hushed or reverential tones. It is rather honoring all that God is, His qualities, character, and attributes—all the things embodied in His Name. When the psalmist said: “The nations will fear the name of Yahweh” (Ps 102:15), did this mean they feared the letters in the word “Yahweh”? No, they feared the Lord God Himself.

At the risk of over-simplifying the opening clauses of the Lord’s Prayer, what Jesus is teaching us is to come before the Father with this attitude: “Our Father, who cares for us with true tenderness, and who has in heaven the supplies to meet our every need; may Your attributes, Your nature, Your character, Your reputation, Your person, Your whole being itself be honored.” Before we start asking for what we want from God, we need to have the right perspective of God.

I have just been reading some words of Gregory of Nyssa, who prayed:

May I become through Thy help blameless, just, and holy. May I abstain from every evil, speak the truth, and do justly. May I walk in the straight paths, sing with temperance adorned with incorruption, beautiful through wisdom and prudence. May I meditate upon the things that are above and despise what is earthly, for a man can hallow God’s Name in no other way than by reflecting His character and bear witness to the fact that divine power is the cause of his goodness.

Further Study

Ps 33:8; 34:9; 86:11; 111:1-10

What is the beginning of wisdom?

What does it mean to fear the Lord?