When we look at the reality of a good relationship in our lives, maybe our parents, a great mentor in our lives, our spouse or someone we love deeply, we are thankful for their presence. In being thankful, we realize that it a privilege to have them in our lives guiding us. We show honor and respect by exalting their name. When we say their name, we say it as a term of deep respect and endearment.
When I talk about my wife, I often say, “my wonderful wife”. Or when I talk about a good friend, I might say, “my close friend Bry” or “my good friend Mike”. Or, we might honor their name by the way we say it. Have you ever heard someone say, “My momma used to say….” and you knew by the tone of their voice and delivery how much they loved and respected thier mother?
When Jesus taught how to pray in what we call, “The Lord’s Prayer”, it is interesting that He it is framed in the manner of an ancient Jewish prayer of mourning…a “Kaddish“. In Aramaic, “Kaddish (Quaddish)” means “Holy”. The phrases “our Father in heaven” is a declaration of God’s greatness and eternality, an indication that we know that God is holy. As Christians…we bear the holy name of Jesus in our hearts and are responsible to “hallow” Him in every aspect of our lives.
The Greek word translated as “hallowed” is “hagiazo” [hag-ee-ad·zo] which has a meaning of dedication and consecration to God. These words remind us that God wants to hear and listen as a loving Father, but that coming to him is also an awesome privilege.
So, Jesus teaches us the SPIRIT in which we approach the Father in prayer. “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name”….we recognize and acknowledge that God is indeed great in our lives, that coming to Him is an awesome privilege. We pray that we will indeed be able to honor His name my modeling His wisdom in our lives.
In many ways it is very similar to how we show respect and love for those people in our lives we are close to.
Matthew 6:9-13 [TNIV, This is Jesus speaking]
9 This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
May you find comfort in the arms of the Father…in the arms of Jesus. May your life be an act of worship being thankful for His love, his guidance and His wisdom. May you honor His name and live in peace…bringing heaven to earth.