Hallowing God's Name: A Call to Reverence
Summary
In today's reflection, we delve into the profound significance of the Lord's Prayer, particularly focusing on the phrase "Hallowed be Your Name." This prayer, given by Jesus, is a cornerstone of Christian faith, inviting us to address God with reverence and intimacy. The act of naming, as Dallas Willard suggests, creates a unique relational space, a sacred configuration that is stronger than steel. When we pray, "Our Father in heaven," we are not merely addressing a distant deity but entering into a deep, personal relationship with the Creator.
The term "hallowed" is not commonly used today, yet it carries a weighty meaning. To hallow is to ascribe the deepest worth, to recognize something as sacred and set apart. This is not just about dedicating or consecrating, but about acknowledging the ultimate worth of God's name and character. In the Bible, names are more than labels; they reflect the essence and destiny of a person. Thus, when we pray for God's name to be hallowed, we are asking for His character and goodness to be recognized and revered above all else.
The challenge we face is whether our lives are centered on making a name for ourselves or on hallowing God's name. In a world where personal branding and self-promotion are prevalent, the call to hallow God's name invites us to find our worth not in our achievements but in our relationship with Him. Our worth is not self-generated but bestowed by God, much like the historical significance of Mount Vernon is derived from its association with George Washington.
Nicholas Wolterstorff's experience teaching in a prison underscores this truth. The prisoners, despite their circumstances, found honor and worth in engaging with his work, "Lament for a Son." Their openness and shared grief revealed a profound common humanity, illustrating that true worth is not diminished by our failures or limitations but is affirmed by God's love and sacrifice.
As we navigate our own griefs and challenges, may we continually pray, "Hallowed be Your Name," recognizing God's worth in the world, in others, and in ourselves. Let this prayer guide us to live lives that reflect His goodness and love.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Power of Naming in Prayer: Addressing God by name in prayer creates a sacred relational space, emphasizing the personal and intimate nature of our relationship with Him. This act of naming is a profound acknowledgment of God's presence and our standing before Him. [00:58]
2. Understanding 'Hallowed': To hallow God's name is to ascribe the deepest worth and reverence to His character. It is a call to recognize and honor God's ultimate goodness and holiness, setting Him apart in our lives. [02:38]
3. The Choice of Centering Our Lives: We face a choice between making a name for ourselves or hallowing God's name. True fulfillment and stability come from centering our lives on God's worth rather than our own achievements or ego. [04:43]
4. Bestowed Worth: Our worth is not based on our abilities or achievements but is bestowed by God. This bestowed worth is akin to the historical significance of places associated with great figures, reminding us of our inherent value in God's eyes. [06:56]
5. Shared Humanity in Grief: Engaging with others in shared grief, as seen in Wolterstorff's prison teaching experience, reveals our common humanity and the profound worth we all possess. This shared experience underscores the importance of recognizing God's worth in ourselves and others. [10:17]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:31] - Introduction to the Lord's Prayer
- [00:44] - The Importance of Addressing God
- [01:12] - The Sacred Configuration of Naming
- [01:55] - Understanding 'Hallowed'
- [02:38] - The Depth of Dedication, Consecration, and Hallowing
- [03:40] - The Significance of God's Name
- [04:30] - The Choice: Hallowing God's Name vs. Self-Promotion
- [05:39] - The Need for a Foundation of Worth
- [06:27] - Bestowed Worth and Its Implications
- [07:16] - Nicholas Wolterstorff's Experience
- [08:52] - The Honor of Presence and Shared Humanity
- [09:49] - Grief and Common Humanity
- [10:46] - Worthy is the Lamb: A Prayer for Today
- [11:30] - Invitation to Engage and Connect
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: "Hallowed Be Your Name"
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 6:9-13 (The Lord's Prayer)
2. Genesis 11:4 (The Tower of Babel)
3. Exodus 20:7 (The Third Commandment)
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Observation Questions:
1. What does the phrase "Hallowed be Your Name" mean in the context of the Lord's Prayer? How does it relate to the overall message of the prayer? [01:55]
2. How does the sermon describe the act of naming in prayer, and why is it considered a sacred configuration? [01:12]
3. What examples from the sermon illustrate the difference between dedicating, consecrating, and hallowing? [02:38]
4. How does the story of Nicholas Wolterstorff's experience in prison highlight the concept of bestowed worth? [07:16]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our worth is bestowed by God rather than self-generated? How does this understanding impact one's self-perception? [06:56]
2. How does the sermon contrast the idea of making a name for oneself with hallowing God's name? What are the implications of each choice for a person's life? [04:30]
3. How does the sermon use the example of the Tower of Babel to illustrate the dangers of self-promotion? What lessons can be drawn from this biblical story? [04:43]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the role of shared grief in recognizing our common humanity and God's worth in others? [10:17]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your daily prayers. How often do you consciously hallow God's name, and how might you incorporate this practice more intentionally? [01:55]
2. Consider your personal and professional life. Are there areas where you are more focused on making a name for yourself rather than hallowing God's name? How can you shift your focus? [04:30]
3. Think about a time when you felt your worth was based on your achievements. How can you remind yourself of your bestowed worth from God in similar situations? [06:56]
4. Identify a relationship in your life where you can practice recognizing God's worth in the other person. What specific actions can you take to honor them this week? [10:17]
5. Reflect on a recent challenge or grief you have faced. How can the prayer "Hallowed be Your Name" guide you in finding peace and purpose in that situation? [11:16]
6. How can you create a sacred relational space in your interactions with others, similar to the act of naming in prayer? What changes might you need to make in your communication style? [01:12]
7. Consider the concept of bestowed worth. How can you affirm this worth in someone who may feel undervalued or overlooked in your community? [07:16]
Devotional
Day 1: The Sacred Space of Naming
Addressing God by name in prayer creates a sacred relational space, emphasizing the personal and intimate nature of our relationship with Him. This act of naming is a profound acknowledgment of God's presence and our standing before Him. When we say "Our Father in heaven," we are not merely speaking to a distant deity but entering into a deep, personal relationship with the Creator. This sacred configuration, as Dallas Willard suggests, is stronger than steel, forming a unique bond that transcends the ordinary. [00:58]
"Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name." (Malachi 3:16, ESV)
Reflection: How can you create a sacred space in your daily routine to address God by name and deepen your relationship with Him today?
Day 2: Reverence in Hallowing
To hallow God's name is to ascribe the deepest worth and reverence to His character. It is a call to recognize and honor God's ultimate goodness and holiness, setting Him apart in our lives. The term "hallowed" may not be commonly used today, but it carries a weighty meaning of dedication and consecration. When we pray for God's name to be hallowed, we are asking for His character and goodness to be recognized and revered above all else. This act of reverence is not just about acknowledging God's holiness but also about aligning our lives with His divine nature. [02:38]
"Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!" (Psalm 99:5, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you actively honor and set apart God's name in your daily actions and decisions?
Day 3: Centering on God's Worth
We face a choice between making a name for ourselves or hallowing God's name. True fulfillment and stability come from centering our lives on God's worth rather than our own achievements or ego. In a world where personal branding and self-promotion are prevalent, the call to hallow God's name invites us to find our worth not in our achievements but in our relationship with Him. This choice challenges us to shift our focus from self-centered pursuits to a life that reflects God's goodness and love. [04:43]
"Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'" (Jeremiah 9:23-24, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are tempted to seek personal recognition? How can you shift your focus to hallowing God's name instead?
Day 4: The Gift of Bestowed Worth
Our worth is not based on our abilities or achievements but is bestowed by God. This bestowed worth is akin to the historical significance of places associated with great figures, reminding us of our inherent value in God's eyes. Just as Mount Vernon derives its significance from its association with George Washington, our worth is derived from our relationship with God. This understanding frees us from the pressure to prove ourselves and allows us to rest in the assurance of God's love and acceptance. [06:56]
"But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God." (1 Corinthians 1:27-29, ESV)
Reflection: How can you embrace the worth that God has bestowed upon you, rather than seeking validation through your achievements?
Day 5: Shared Humanity in Grief
Engaging with others in shared grief reveals our common humanity and the profound worth we all possess. Nicholas Wolterstorff's experience teaching in a prison illustrates that true worth is not diminished by our failures or limitations but is affirmed by God's love and sacrifice. The prisoners, despite their circumstances, found honor and worth in engaging with his work, "Lament for a Son." This shared experience underscores the importance of recognizing God's worth in ourselves and others, even amidst our griefs and challenges. [10:17]
"Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight." (Romans 12:15-16, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life is experiencing grief or hardship? How can you come alongside them to share in their humanity and affirm their worth in God's eyes?
Quotes
When we speak to someone, we use a name to call that person in distinction from everyone else. We indicate that we wish to speak to that particular person and to call attention to our standing in relation to the one addressed. I call my son my dear boy, my daughter little princess, my wife sweetheart. [00:52:48]
To dedicate means to set something aside, to commit it to some special use, and I can do that on a purely human level. Consecration is a little deeper. Consecration brings in the Divine. We consecrate the bread and the cup at the Lord's supper or a life that is somehow committed to God's word. [02:42:00]
We all need something larger than that to sustain our life. My life cannot be built on myself, and when I come to grief, when I come to pain, when I come to loss, when I come to anguish, when I come to what I cannot control—and I do, and you do too—I can't live on that foundation anymore. [04:48:00]
We are worth-ascribing creatures. We can't help to do that, and we need a source, a foundation of ultimate worth that is large enough that it will keep us going through the most painful times, and there is only one, and that's God. And that's what we say here: Hallowed Be Your Name. [05:36:00]
If our worth was just dependent on our abilities, then if you're not very athletic, if you're not a very high IQ person or very lovely, then your worth is diminished. He said it's a little like there's a home in Virginia called Mount Vernon, and it has incalculable worth because it once belonged to George Washington. [06:34:00]
The most profound teaching experience he ever had was not at Harvard, it was not at Yale, it was at a state prison in Michigan where he was invited to come teach because it was explained to him that a group of men were taking a class in this prison and they had been assigned for a philosophical text to read through "Lament for a Son." [07:19:00]
They would say, "We are so honored, Professor, that you have come to visit our class." Never before had a student told me that they were honored by my presence in their classroom. Sometimes when I'm introduced as a speaker, the person introducing me declares that the group's honored to have me there. [08:19:00]
They who were daily demeaned, forced to knuckle under, ordered around, were saying that my presence honored them, declared that they were not worthless scum, declared that they had honor. Worthy, worthy, Hallowed be your name. [08:49:00]
The men in the class themselves were in grief, most of them not over the death of a child but over the ruin they had wrought on their own lives and the lives of others. They were reading the book not so much as my expression of my grief but as an expression of their grief. [09:20:00]
They offered interpretations of my words that had never occurred to me. I was the student that day; they were the teachers. Hallowed be thy name, Hallowed be thy name. I felt profoundly my common humanity with these men. [10:14:00]
I felt more connected with those lifers than I have ever felt connected with 18 to 22-year-old college students at Calvin or Harvard or Yale. Hallowed be thy name. So this day, as you walk through this day, whatever your grief, get worth it. Worthy, worthy, worthy. [10:43:00]
We see his worth when we look out at the world that he made, when we look out at the people for whom Jesus died, when we look at ourselves, when we look at our lives, when we look at our problems. Here's the prayer for today: worthy, worthy, worthy. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain. [11:00:00]
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