HONOURING GOD
When we pray, “hallowed be your name” we are asking that God be honored.
But how, Christians honor God when they do His will in obedience to His word.
God’s name is hallowed when we care for the sick and the poor, learn to love our neighbors, work hard to take care of our family’s need and worshipped and praised with a sincere heart.
Again, we ought to remember WHO he is, WHAT He is like. Many people think that prayer is just an attempt to get something we want for ourselves. Of course, that is all wrong. We do not ask for what we want, but instead we ask for what God wants to be accomplished in us. See Matthew 7:11, If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!
Why, do we pray that God’s will be done on earth–“Matthew 6: 10” Because God knows more than we do. Acceptance of God’s will does not mean that we just sit still in the face of some nameless “destiny”, saying God knows the best.
Jesus used many lessons in His teaching to prove God’s willingness to help. He used examples of God’s care in nature. Matthew chapter 6:5–15, And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. This, then, is how you should 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 today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins your Father will not forgive your sins.
Again, Jesus used example of family love, showing “how much more” the heavenly Father cares. See Matthew 7:9–11, Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him! See also John 2:9–11, They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then He called the bridegroom aside and said, Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now. This, the first of His miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples put their faith in Him.
Jesus gave much more than a gift at this wedding party. He gave a sign with important messages that trusting God will always save in life.
We do not just throw up our hands and say, we will pray about it, we should enthusiastically desire that the will of God be done, because we know that His will is the best possible thing for us. We should do what God wants and take it, that God knows best and chooses the best for His believing children.
Jesus says, “I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world” See John 12:47–50, As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that His command leads to eternal life. So, whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.
POINTS TO PONDER: -
What ruins relationships most? How about selfishness? What gets most people in trouble with God? How about pride?
See Proverbs 16:5, The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. Also see James 4:6, But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
God is the loving Father and Friend, to who reaches out to us through Jesus Christ. He offers to share eternal life with us, then let us honor Him according to Jesus’ teaching. But only open hearts can accept His free gift. See Matthew 16:24–25, Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. Also see Matthew 18:3–4, And He said: I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
God has a perfect plan for each one of us because He is a God of love and justice. So, let us draw near to Him with sincere and humble heart.
When we pray, “hallowed be your name” we are asking that God be honored.
But how, Christians honor God when they do His will in obedience to His word.
God’s name is hallowed when we care for the sick and the poor, learn to love our neighbors, work hard to take care of our family’s need and worshipped and praised with a sincere heart.
Again, we ought to remember WHO he is, WHAT He is like. Many people think that prayer is just an attempt to get something we want for ourselves. Of course, that is all wrong. We do not ask for what we want, but instead we ask for what God wants to be accomplished in us. See Matthew 7:11, If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!
Why, do we pray that God’s will be done on earth–“Matthew 6: 10” Because God knows more than we do. Acceptance of God’s will does not mean that we just sit still in the face of some nameless “destiny”, saying God knows the best.
Jesus used many lessons in His teaching to prove God’s willingness to help. He used examples of God’s care in nature. Matthew chapter 6:5–15, And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. This, then, is how you should 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 today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins your Father will not forgive your sins.
Again, Jesus used example of family love, showing “how much more” the heavenly Father cares. See Matthew 7:9–11, Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him! See also John 2:9–11, They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then He called the bridegroom aside and said, Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now. This, the first of His miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples put their faith in Him.
Jesus gave much more than a gift at this wedding party. He gave a sign with important messages that trusting God will always save in life.
We do not just throw up our hands and say, we will pray about it, we should enthusiastically desire that the will of God be done, because we know that His will is the best possible thing for us. We should do what God wants and take it, that God knows best and chooses the best for His believing children.
Jesus says, “I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world” See John 12:47–50, As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that His command leads to eternal life. So, whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.
POINTS TO PONDER: -
What ruins relationships most? How about selfishness? What gets most people in trouble with God? How about pride?
See Proverbs 16:5, The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. Also see James 4:6, But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
God is the loving Father and Friend, to who reaches out to us through Jesus Christ. He offers to share eternal life with us, then let us honor Him according to Jesus’ teaching. But only open hearts can accept His free gift. See Matthew 16:24–25, Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. Also see Matthew 18:3–4, And He said: I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
God has a perfect plan for each one of us because He is a God of love and justice. So, let us draw near to Him with sincere and humble heart.