Like An Anchor

All of the Good Fruit, None of the Bad

6 July, 20245 July, 2024Marissa

I’m guessing you all know about the fruit of the spirit. You might have them memorized: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, and self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23, NET). You might even have done in-depth studies on them, such as spending a month writing scriptures about each trait with my free 30-day scripture writing plans.

There’s another list in Galatians, though. It comes right before the fruit of the spirit passage and details the works of the flesh. We’re meant to read both and notice a contrast between the two because Paul is making a point about how Christians live. When he says you’re “not under the law,” he doesn’t mean God gives you freedom to go out and live a hedonistic, sinful life. Quite the opposite, in fact. We’re given freedom so we can fully follow God from the heart, with all the fruit of the spirit in our lives and none of the works of the flesh.

The Works of the Flesh

There’s a lot going on in Paul’s letter to the Galatians. He wrote to correct errors in the Galatian believers’ theology. They were confused, even following what Paul described as other gospels. It seems their main issue involved a too-strict reliance on Old Covenant law and Jewish additions to the law. Paul reinforces the good news he originally preached to them: the Old Covenant ended with Jesus’s death and a New Covenant took its place. Jesus’s faithfulness is what brings us righteousness and justification, not our own efforts. That doesn’t mean we break God’s law (Christ does not encourage sin nor did He do away with God’s law [Matt. 5:17-20; Rom. 3:28-31]), but Jesus didn’t redeem us and give us the Spirit so that we could then try to save ourselves by our own efforts. He saved us, and we’re to reciprocate with faith that involves active, relational loyalty.

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another.For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment, namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”However, if you continually bite and devour one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Galatians 5:13-18, NET (bold italics mark a quotation from Lev. 19:18)

When we’re baptized into Jesus Christ, we symbolically die to our “old man” and we’re reborn as children of God (Paul covers this extensively in Romans). That transformation has (or should have) a profound effect on our lives. We’re to change, becoming less and less like fleshy, selfish humans and more and more like spirit beings in God’s family. That involves putting off things associated with fallen humanity living in a world influenced by Satan.

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!
Galatians 5:19-21, NET

This isn’t a complete list (Paul has similar ones in other letters, like 1 Cor 6:9-11; Eph. 5:1-6; Col. 3:1-10), but the message is clear. If we continue to do things that God defines as sinful or unrighteous we will not inherit as His children or be in His kingdom. That’s one of the reasons it’s still important for us to know about God’s law; His law defines sin and acts as a tutor or guardian pointing to Christ (Rom. 3:20; Gal. 3:24).

Image of green grapes overlaid with text from Gal. 5:22-23 version: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. " — Image by congerdesign from Pixabay

Live In The Spirit

Cleaning things God hates out of our lives is an important part of our relationship with Him. It’s not the most important part, though. First, Jesus is the one who initially washes us clean; only believing in Him, repenting of our sins, and accepting His sacrifice can make us clean. Then, we’re called to participate in His ongoing work in us. We’re supposed to keep examining ourselves, putting away bad things, and putting in good things as we become more and more like Him. If we don’t take any action, then we’re like the person Jesus warned about in this analogy:

“When an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it passes through waterless places looking for rest but does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the home I left.’ When it returns, it finds the house empty, swept clean, and put in order.Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there, so the last state of that person is worse than the first. It will be that way for this evil generation as well!”
Matthew 12:43-45, NET

If you remove something evil from your life and don’t replace it with something good, then there’s a chance something worse is going to move in. It’s like if you give up eating candy so you can be healthier, but don’t add any good eating habits, then take up smoking on top of going back to eating tons of sugar. Except in this case, we’re taking out works of the flesh and we’re supposed to replace them with fruit of the spirit. If we try to take out something like “outbursts of anger” without putting in things like love, peace, and patience then the anger isn’t going to stay gone and might get worse.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-25, NET

We need to have all of the fruit of the spirit AND none of the works of the flesh. It’ll be a life-long process, but that’s the goal. We can’t be content with getting rid of most of the works of the flesh or having just some of the fruit of the spirit. God’s people shouldn’t look at themselves, shrug their shoulders and think, “Eh, guess I’m good enough now” (Rom. 11:18-21; 1 Cor. 8:2; 10:12). We need to stay faithful, keep learning, humble ourselves and repent as needed, and ask God to guide our growth.

Helping Each Other

Image of good and bad apples on the ground overlaid with blog's title text and the words, "We can't be content with getting rid of most of the works of the flesh or having just some of the fruit of the spirit. We need all of the fruit of the spirit AND none of the works of the flesh." — Image by Manfred Richter from Pixabay

If we just stopped at the end of chapter 5, we might think that removing the works of the flesh and putting on the fruit of the spirit is just an individual, private thing. In some ways it is: we’re each responsible for ourselves and we’re the ones who will answer to God for what we did with the gifts He gives us and the work He does in us. But at the same time, we’re also responsible for how we interact with other people. Christians are not called to isolated, individual walks. God calls us into a family, a collective body of believers who are meant to support each other.

Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too.Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Let each one examine his own work. Then he can take pride in himself and not compare himself with someone else. For each one will carry his own load.
Galatians 6:1-5, NET

We’re supposed to help each other put away the works of the flesh and cultivate the fruit of the spirit. Notice that Paul doesn’t say “judge,” “condemn,” or even “correct.” He says to “restore” this person. The Greek word is katartizo, and it means to mend something that’s broken or “to strengthen, perfect, complete, make one what he ought to be” (Thayer’s Dictionary entry G2675). Sometimes, we’ll be the one in need of mending who needs help from other believers. Other times, we’ll be “carrying our own load” well enough that we can be the one who helps another.

Now the one who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with the one who teaches it. Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows, because the person who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up.So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.
Galatians 6:6-10, NET

The sowing and reaping analogy fits so well with calling godly characteristics “fruit of the spirit.” Right before His crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples that He chose them to bear fruit, that their fruitfulness honors the Father, and that it shows they are genuine followers of God (John 15:8, 16). Our connection with Jesus should be a fruitful one. If we invest or “sow” into the life of the spirit–our life following Jesus and becoming like Him and Our Father–then we’ll produce good fruit to replace the works of the flesh that He’s working with us to remove from our lives.

Featured image by Manfred Richter from Pixabay

Song Recommendation: “I Am New” by Jason Gray

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When God Does (and Doesn’t) Share His Glory

29 June, 202428 June, 2024Marissa

Almost two weeks ago, I was reading my devotional for this year when the author, Chris Tiegreen, made a point that I’d never thought about before. He pointed out that God once said He doesn’t share His glory with others, but He does share His glory with His children (The One Year Hearing His Voice Devotional, June 17). In the first case, God is being zealous for His reputation and relationship with His people, refusing to share the glory due to Him as Yahweh with idols or anything else. But in the second case, He’s inviting people to become part of His family and share in the glory that belongs to Him.

It’s really an amazing thought. Our God is great and powerful, almighty and sovereign. He has absolute and ultimate authority that no one else can check. He’s truly glorious and inherently holy. It’s incredible that He pays attention to us at all, let alone that He invites us to become part of His family and wants to make us like Him.

Image of a man sitting on a beach watching the sunset overlaid with text from 2 Cor. 3:18 version: “But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.” — Image by Aaron Kitzo from Lightstock

Our Jealous God

There are two places, both in Isaiah, where God specifically says “I will not share my glory” or “I will not give my glory to” anyone else (phrasing depends on translation). Let’s take a look at those; they’re both part of the final section of Isaiah, which we studied extensively here on this blog a couple years ago.

“I am Yahweh.
    That is my name.
    I will not give my glory to another,
    nor my praise to engraved images.
Isaiah 42:8, WEB

For my sake alone I will act,
for how can I allow my name to be defiled?
I will not share my glory with anyone else!
Isaiah 48:11, NET

Notice the emphasis God places on His name. In Hebrew thought, names are linked with reputation. God cares about how people see His name; it should be regarded as holy. He won’t allow people to defile His name, and He doesn’t share His glory with anyone else. I think this links back to some of God’s warnings in Exodus. When He made a covenant with ancient Israel, He made sure to let them know that He would not tolerate them worshiping other gods. It’s right there at the beginning of the 10 commandments.

God spoke all these words, saying, “I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

“You shall have no other gods before me.

“You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God
Exodus 20:1-5, WEB

Later in Exodus, God reinforces this command. He warns Israel not to make covenant relationships with the other nations in the promised land and to destroy all their altars, places of worship, and idols because “you shall worship no other god; for Yahweh, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” (Ex. 34:14, WEB). We often think of jealousy as bad, but God feels it as a right and proper emotion. His jealousy is “zeal for one’s own property” or spouse (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, entry 2038). Just like a husband or wife doesn’t want to share their spouse with someone else, God doesn’t want to share His people with another god or anything else they might prioritize above Him.

Image of two men sitting across a table from each other with books on the table overlaid with text from Heb. 2:10, NET version: “For it was fitting for him, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” — Image by Claudine Chaussé from Lightstock

Shared, Familial Glory

In the New Testament, most of the time when “glory” is mentioned, it’s in the context of glorifying God or acknowledging the glory of Jesus Christ. That’s no surprise–they’re the ones who deserve glory, and if we see them correctly we’ll know to glorify Them rather than something or someone else. What’s surprising is that there are moments when God chooses to share His glory.

“I am not praying only on their behalf, but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their testimony,that they will all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray that they will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me. The glory you gave to me I have given to them, that they may be one just as we are one—I in them and you in me—that they may be completely one, so that the world will know that you sent me, and you have loved them just as you have loved me.”
John 17:20-23, NET

There’s so much just in this little section of Jesus’s prayer before His death that should make our jaws drop. He prayed for us, looking ahead to think of all the people who would believe in Him because of what His disciples would teach. He prayed for oneness between us and Him and the Father–that we’d actually get to share in the same relationship They have with each other. He says He gives glory to them–all those who believe in Him–just like the Father gave Him glory. He even says that the Father loves us the same way He loves Jesus.

This should blow our minds. Our jealous God, zealous to guard the glory of His name and keep an exclusive relationship with His people, decided to share His glory in a very specific way. Even though all human beings “have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23, NET), He’s inviting people to join Him in His family and thereby receive His glory. It’s not like we’re earning glory on our own; we get to have glory because He is glorious and He’s making us like Him.

Called To A Glorious Future

Image of two girls studying a Bible, overlaid with blog's title text and the words, "God doesn't share His glory with just anyone, but He wants to share it with us. He won't tolerate rival deities, but He's making us part of His family." — Image by Ryan Klintworth from Lightstock

God called us for a purpose. He wants to grow His family. That’s been His plan from the beginning: to make more god-beings who will be the Father’s children, Jesus’s younger (adopted) brothers and sisters, and who will make up Jesus’s bride. In other words, He wants to share His glory by making us like Him (2 Thess. 2:13-14; Heb. 2:9-10; 1 Pet. 5:10-11).

As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his own children, exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you live in a way worthy of God who calls you to his own kingdom and his glory.
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12, NET

We’ve been called to glory now, but it’s not fully shared with us yet. That’s happening in the future, just like we are already the children of God but we’re still waiting to see exactly what it means that we will be like God (1 John 3:1-2).

But our citizenship is in heaven—and we also eagerly await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform these humble bodies of ours into the likeness of his glorious body by means of that power by which he is able to subject all things to himself.
Philippians 3:20-21, NET

In the future, after Jesus’s return, we’ll be transformed into glory (Rom. 8:18-21; 1 Cor. 15:41-43; 2 Cor. 3:18). It’s one of the blessings associated with the promise of eternal life. God doesn’t share His glory with just anyone, but He wants to share it with us. He won’t tolerate rival deities, but He’s making us like Him as part of His family.

Reading that God won’t share His glory with others, but that He does share His glory with us, reinforces the high value God places on His people. It also helps us understand our relationship to Him. It’s not just that He likes us the way we like our pets. He’s literally making us part of His family, meaning we get to share in the things that are part of His family including His glory.

Featured image by Pearl from Lightstock

Song Recommendation: “Glorious” by Ted Pearce

May Your Kingdom Come

22 June, 202421 June, 2024Marissa

When I wrote about the phrase “hallowed be your name” at the beginning of Jesus’s model prayer (also known as the Lord’s Prayer), I hadn’t intended to write any follow up posts. But I recently found myself pondering the next phrase in that prayer: “may your kingdom come,” and I wanted to study that more deeply as well.

I notice that when I pray, I tend to add a sentiment like “your kingdom come, your will be done” at the end of my prayers. I don’t think this is unusual. I remember reading a book about prayer where the author said he does the same thing, feeling it makes a better summation than an opening idea. Still, Jesus put this phrase at the beginning of His model prayer. We don’t have to follow that model exactly (it’s a guide and outline rather than a prayer to just repeat word-for-word all the time), but I have to think there’s a reason He organized the model prayer the way that He did.

Image of a woman with her hands lifted in praise overlaid with text from Heb. 12:28, NET version: "So since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe." — Image by Pearl from Lightstock

Prioritizing the Kingdom

Two gospels record the model prayer. In Matthew, Jesus gives this outline as part of the Sermon on the Mount when He’s talking about good and bad examples for how to pray (Matt. 6:5-15). In Luke, He uses this prayer to respond to a disciple’s request that Jesus teach them to pray (Luke 11:1-13). Both versions are about the same, though Luke’s is a little shorter depending on the translation (it seems that later manuscripts borrowed from Matthew’s gospel to expand the prayer in Luke’s [NET footnotes on Luke 11:2, 4). Let’s look at the version recorded by Matthew.

So pray this way:
Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored,
may your kingdom come,
may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one
Matthew 6:9-13, NET

We begin by addressing “our Father in heaven.” It’s an intimate, relational way to speak to the one true God. Also, by saying “our” instead of “my,” we’re reminded that He’s the Father of a whole family that we’re part of. “May your name be honored” continues properly aligning how we view and approach God. We should regard Him as holy, and we should also pray that others come to the same realization.

Then, Jesus says, “may your kingdom come.” It’s the first thing He prays for after acknowledging God’s holiness. I wonder if He prioritizes this part of the prayer for the same reason that He counsels us to prioritize God’s kingdom just a little later in this Sermon on the Mount.

So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:31-34, NET

We shouldn’t get preoccupied by worry about physical things. God already knows that we need them and we can trust Him to take care of us. More of our focus should be on pursuing His kingdom and righteousness. Other translations often use the phrase “seek first” (Matt. 6:33, WEB). If we arrange our prayers so all of our requests for ourselves crowd into the first part of the prayer and then tack on “your kingdom come” at the end, maybe that’s a sign that we’ve gotten into the habit of prioritizing something other than His kingdom and righteousness.

Image of a man reading the Bible overlaid with text from Matt. 7:21, NET version: "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven—only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” — Image by Matt Vasquez from Lightstock

What Is the Kingdom?

What does it mean to “seek first” or “pursue” God’s kingdom? To answer that, we first need to understand what His kingdom is. Jesus spoke often about the kingdom in the gospels (especially as recorded by Matthew and Luke). At the beginning of His public ministry, “Jesus began to preach this message: ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!'” (Matt. 4:17, NET). He came here to preach the good news about God’s kingdom (Matt. 4:23; 9:35; Luke 4:42-44; 8:1). The kingdom of heaven, or God’s kingdom, is a central part of the gospel message.

The kingdom of God is both a future thing and a present reality. It’s where we’re heading, and it’s also our homeland right now. For example, John’s opening salutation in Revelation says Jesus has already “appointed us as a kingdom, as priests serving his God and Father” (Rev. 1:6, NET). But we’re also still waiting on the future time when the seventh angel will sound his trumpet and voices proclaim, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever” (Rev. 11:15, NET). When we entered into a covenant relationship with God, we placed ourselves under His authority and became citizens of the kingdom of heaven (Phil. 3:20) even though that kingdom isn’t physically present on earth yet.

giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves,in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:12-14, NET

The kingdom of God is where God rules and where His people belong. Right now, it’s growing in the world in little pockets. It’s like yeast kneaded in flour, grain sowed in a field, or hidden treasure (Matt. 13:23-51). In certain senses, the kingdom is already here among us. It “came near” when Jesus or His followers arrived in a city to preach the good news and heal the sick. At one point, Jesus even said “the kingdom of God is in your midst” (Luke 10:9-11; 11:19-20; 17:20-21). But at the same time, He had to correct people who “supposed that God’s Kingdom would be revealed immediately” (Luke 19:11, NET; see Luke 19:9-28). The kingdom was there in Jesus, it’s here now in His people, but Jesus hasn’t yet visibly taken up the authority God the Father has given Him to directly rule the entire world.

We’re still waiting on the full realization of the promise that Jesus “will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:32-33, NET). Most of that has already happened. We’re just waiting for His kingdom to fully arrive here on this earth (Luke 21:5-36; 1 Cor. 15:20-28). When we pray, “may your kingdom come,” we’re looking forward to that time.

Keep On-Track Toward the Kingdom

Image of a man reading a Bible, overlaid with blog's title text and the words, "Praying, "may your kingdom come," helps put our lives into perspective and focuses us on our goal." — Image by Anggie from Lightstock

In the future, Jesus will come, separate out the kingdom-people, and settle accounts with them (Matt. 18:23-35; 20:1-16; 25:1-46). He’s hoping to pass good judgement and welcome them fully into His kingdom, but there are also warnings. You don’t get into the kingdom of God at the end of the age unless you’re doing God’s will, living righteously, and producing good fruit (Matt. 5:18-20; 7:21; 18:1-3; 21:43-22:14). In other words, as Paul says, those practicing unrighteous things have no inheritance in the kingdom (1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:5). The warnings are to motivate us out of complacency so that we actually live the lives that God called us to live, not to terrify us.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is well pleased to give you the kingdom.Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves purses that do not wear out—a treasure in heaven that never decreases, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Luke 12:32-34, NET

God chose us out of this world and made us “heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him” (Jas. 2:5, NET). That has already happened. We could choose to leave that kingdom, but God is highly invested in making sure we stay part of His family. His kingdom is unshakable (Heb. 12:28) and He can bring us “safely into His heavenly kingdom” (2 Tim. 4:18, NET). We just need to do our part to “live in a way worthy of God who calls you to his own kingdom and his glory” (1 Thess. 2:12, NET).

Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to be sure of your calling and election. For by doing this you will never stumble into sin.For thus an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be richly provided for you.
2 Peter 1:10-11, NET

By praying, “may your kingdom come,” we remind ourselves of our goal. It helps put our lives into perspective to remember that we belong in God’s kingdom and, because we’re under His authority, we’re supposed to live a certain way. It also helps us remember not to get bogged down in the day-to-day stuff, and instead remember that we’re part of something bigger and longer-lasting than this present world.

Featured image by Prixel Creative from Lightstock

Song Recommendation: “Let Your Kingdom Come” by Sovereign Grace Music (feat. Chris Jackson)

The Gift of Recognizing Blessings

15 June, 202418 June, 2024Marissa

Our God is so generous with His blessings, and not only with those following Him. As Jesus points out, the Father “causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matt. 5:45, NET). It’s part of Him being perfect (Matt. 5:48). There are a lot of people who enjoy those sorts of universal blessings and don’t recognize where they come from. Even more heartbreaking, there are people who follow God, receive extra blessings, and still don’t recognize it.

As part of God’s church, we’re called out of the world and told to live like resident aliens in the countries where we reside. We’re now citizens of God’s heavenly kingdom. But the influences of the world and culture we grew up in still affect us, often in unconscious ways. One of those ways involves the idea that real things should be observable, testable, and explainable. We assume things have a natural, rational explanation behind them. Even as Christians, we’re often quick to see something good or even wonderful happen and say, “well that was lucky” or “what a coincidence” or “I’m sure there’s reasonable explanation.”

Recognizing God’s blessings in our lives requires a mindset shift. It also involves accepting and applying some of those blessings. For example, the blessings of internal peace and getting to see things from God’s perspective make it much easier for us to recognize all His blessings in our lives. It’s heartbreaking to see someone who is richly blessed, yet thinks that God doesn’t care about them because they either can’t see the good things happening in their lives or assumes the good is a result of their own hard work, luck, or some natural quirk of the universe.

Image of two people sitting across from each other with books on the table between them, overlaid with text from James 1:17, WEB version: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow." — Image by Claudine Chaussé from Lightstock

Seeing the Source of Good

Think about the good things in your life. Some of them might be obvious blessings from God. For me, that’s my husband and baby–a blessing that I prayed for for many years before I married and got pregnant. Some might be less obvious, like living in a home you payed for with your own money, having pets that you went out and adopted, or the garden growing outside because the weather’s been good for vegetables this year. For those things, it might be easier to think your actions resulted in the good things or that it was just something that happened.

It shall be, when Yahweh your God brings you into the land which he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you, great and goodly cities which you didn’t build, and houses full of all good things which you didn’t fill, and cisterns dug out which you didn’t dig, vineyards and olive trees which you didn’t plant, and you shall eat and be full; then beware lest you forget Yahweh, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall fear Yahweh your God; and you shall serve him, and shall swear by his name.
Deuteronomy 6:10-13, WEB

When ancient Israel was about to enter the promised land, Moses warned them about complacency and forgetfulness. When things are going well and God delivers on the promised blessings, human beings tend to forget where those blessings came from. We think we made them happen, or we deserve them, or that this is just the way life is supposed to be.

Do not be led astray, my dear brothers and sisters.All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change.
James 1:16-17, NET

Both the act of generous giving and the gifts we receive have their source in the Father. And lest we think that good things in our lives aren’t gifts–that they were earned by us rather than given by God–Paul asks us along with the puffed-up church in Corinth, “What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not?” (1 Cor. 4:7, NET). We need to set-aside our pride, resist our forgetfulness, and realize/remember that God is the source of good things in our lives. They are blessings from Him.

Image of a smiling man playing piano overlaid with text from Psalm 34:8, WEB version: "Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him." — Image by Ben White from Lightstock

Gifted With Open Eyes

Several months ago, we studied how God cures spiritual blindness. Some are spiritually blind because of Satan’s influence (2 Cor. 4:4) and others because they’ve closed their own eyes to God’s truth (Matt. 13:13-15). In contrast, Jesus told His followers, “your eyes are blessed because they see, and your ears because they hear” (Matt. 13:16, NET).

We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us insight to know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This one is the true God and eternal life.
1 John 5:19-20, NET

One of the many amazing gifts Jesus gave to people is the “insight to know him who is true.” When God opens someone’s eyes to recognize Him as the one true God and Jesus as the only way to eternal life, that’s an incredible blessing. It’s not a realization that we can get to all on our own. Even the most foundational, beginning steps of faith are a gift from God.

God has revealed these to us by the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the things of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So too, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God. … The one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is understood by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to advise him? But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:10-2, 15-16, NET (bold italics mark a quotation from Isa 40:13)

Revelation, discernment, clear spiritual eyesight–all of those are gifts from God, and they enable us to “know the things that are freely given to us by God.” He’s working on transforming our perspective so we can see things the way He does. Eventually, the way our minds work should be indistinguishable from Jesus’s mind.

Image of a woman sitting at a table with a Bible overlaid with text from Psalm 111:1-2, WEB version: "Praise Yah! I will give thanks to Yahweh with my whole heart, in the council of the upright, and in the congregation. Yahweh’s works are great, pondered by all those who delight in them." — Image by Prixel Creative from Lightstock

Praise and Thanksgiving

Earlier this year, I wrote about the vital concept of “praise” in the Bible. I didn’t bring it up in that post, but after doing that study I started to think that we should see praise as one of the essential spiritual disciplines (like prayer, study, and fasting). Praise–which includes glorifying, thanking, and blessing God as well as recognizing and confessing His deeds–is the proper response to God’s involvement in our lives.

Praise Yahweh, my soul!
All that is within me, praise his holy name!
Praise Yahweh, my soul,
and don’t forget all his benefits,
Psalm 103:1-2, WEB

Cultivating a habit of praise can help us remember all the wonderful things God does for us and recognize His benefits in our lives. It might seem like thankfulness is just something we can do when we feel like it, but Paul instructed his readers to give thanks in everything because that’s God’s will (1 Thes. 5:18). We need to be thankful people.

There’s actually a danger in neglecting to give God thanks. In the opening part of his letter to Roman believers, Paul spoke of a group of people that, “although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened” (Rom. 1:21, NET). If we know about God, but don’t recognize Him for who He is and what He does, we run the risk of having our foolish, senseless hearts go dark.

It is a good thing to give thanks to Yahweh,
    to sing praises to your name, Most High,
to proclaim your loving kindness in the morning,
    and your faithfulness every night …
How great are your works, Yahweh!
    Your thoughts are very deep.
A senseless man doesn’t know,
    neither does a fool understand this:
though the wicked spring up as the grass,
    and all the evildoers flourish,
    they will be destroyed forever.
But you, Yahweh, are on high forever more
Psalm 92:1-2, 5-8, WEB

Senseless and foolish people don’t recognize who God is and what He’s doing. The opposite, then, would be that sensible and wise people can see the good that God does, and then respond properly with praise and thanksgiving. God is full of loving kindness and faithfulness. He wants to pour out blessings on people. Many of those blessings involve opening our eyes, hearts, and minds to be able to understand how deeply involved He is. As we receive those blessings, he enables us to see other blessings as well because our spiritual vision becomes clearer the closer our relationships with Him become.

If we ever feel like we’re not blessed or wonder if God’s actually involved in our lives, we can take heart remembering that the Bible will bless His people. If there’s anything good in our lives, we have Him to thank for that. I dare say most of us can come up with something good if we really think about it (and probably quite a few somethings). It’s not just about the stuff in our lives, though. Often, psalms of praise and thanksgiving spend as much (or more) time focused on who God is and on what He does on a cosmic scale as they do on what He’s doing for the individual psalmist (Psalm 30; 111; 136; 138 are a few examples of praise psalms). The psalmists do give thanks for individual blessings–which often arrive after times of trials–but they also talk as if God’s character and His relationship with His people (including them) is the more amazing blessing.

I think that shift in thinking is how we get to the point where we can constantly give thanks, praise God, and experience joy even in the midst of trials (Heb. 12:28; Eph. 1:11-12; Gal. 5:22-23; Jam. 1:2-4). When we recognize that God’s involvement in our lives and our relationship with Him are great and wonderful blessings, it puts other things in perspective. We can praise and have joy no matter what our external circumstances. We can also develop the spiritual eyesight to see the good things God is doing in our lives, even things that wouldn’t be apparent to people watching from the outside. God blesses us richly, and with His help we can learn to recognize just how blessed we are.

Featured image by Pearl from Lightstock

Song Recommendation: “Counting My Blessings” by Seph Schlueter

What Does It Mean to Make Known the Multifaceted Wisdom of God?

8 June, 20247 June, 2024Marissa

A couple weeks ago, my father-in-law gave a sermon about the spiritual origins or influences behind conflicts we face. Of course, he went to the verse that’s very familiar to anyone studying spiritual warfare: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens” (Eph. 6:12, NET). We look at this verse quite a bit in my Study Guide: Armor of God.

In this sermon, though, he also looked at other places in Ephesians where Paul uses the words “rulers” and “powers,” which are also translated “principalities” and “authorities.” I hadn’t realized that this was a theme in the letter, and one of the verses in particular caught my eye for further study.

The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 3:10, NET

That’s the sort of verse it’s easy to read over, but if you stop and think about what Paul’s saying it’s mind-blowing. There’s something happening in the church that supposed to disclose “the multifaceted wisdom of God” to “the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.” That’s a staggering thing to think about. I’ve never thought of myself as being part of showing God’s manifold, multifaceted, many-sided wisdom to powers in the heavens.

Image of a girl standing in church reading the Bible overlaid with text from Eph. 3:10-11, TLV version: "The purpose is that through Messiah’s community the multi-faceted wisdom of God might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places, which is in keeping with the eternal purpose that He carried out in Messiah Yeshua our Lord." — Image by José Roberto Roquel from Lightstock

What Are the Rulers and Authorities?

You all know by now that I’m a word nerd, so let’s start with some definitions. The Greek word translated “principalities” or “rulers” is arche (G746). There’s a variety of meanings, including beginning, origin, person that commences something, or the active cause. For example, Jesus is described as the arche of creation (Rev. 3:14). The word also means the “first place, principality, rule, or magistracy,” and that’s the sense in which it may be used “of angels and demons” (Thayer’s Dictionary). If that seems like a confusing variety of meanings, just think of how we use “first” in English. If we say someone is “first,” context determines if they arrived first, did something first, or are first in importance.

The Greek word for “powers” or “authorities” is exousia (G1849). This refers to the power to do something, like make choices, do “as one pleases,” exercise authority, rule or govern, and make others submit (Thayer’s Definition). It “combine[s] the two ideas of right and might” (Zodhiates). It refers to having the power/might to accomplish something and the right/authority to go ahead and choose whether to use that power. There are levels of authority. For example, Jesus was given all exousia in heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18). There are other powers, but Jesus is over all of them. That’s the first thing Paul establishes regarding the topic of principalities and powers in Ephesians.

he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realmsfar above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And God put all things under Christ’s feet, and gave him to the church as head over all things. Now the church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 1:20-23, NET (italics mark an allusion to Ps 8:6)

That’s the first thing we need to understand about rulers and authorities, both earthly and heavenly. They’re all subservient to Jesus; He is “far above” even the most powerful of them. He’s the one heading the church, which is the whole group of called-out people that make up His body. We used to live “according to this world’s present path, according to the ruler (archo, derived from arche) of the domain (exousia) of the air, the ruler of the spirit that is now energizing the sons of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2, NET). But God called us out from under that authority and placed us into His son’s body for a purpose.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us,even though we were dead in offenses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved!—and he raised us up together with him and seated us together with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God;it is not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we can do them.
Ephesians 2:4-10, NET

If you read last week’s post, you might remember that God sometimes takes action on behalf of His people to prove His holiness. Even if His people aren’t representing Him as holy, He still acts with respect for His own name and moves to prove Himself holy in the eyes of those watching. That includes His own people, those of other nations, and the spiritual principalities and powers that we’re talking about today.

Image of a man reading the Bible overlaid with text from Colossians 1:9-10, NET version: "For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may live worthily of the Lord and please him in all respects—bearing fruit in every good deed,
growing in the knowledge of God" — Image by Anggie from Lightstock

God’s Great Wisdom

In spiritual terms, all those who respond to God’s call and enter a committed covenant relationship with Him become citizens of His kingdom, and those who aren’t yet in covenant with Him belong to other nations. This is the case regardless of your ethnic background or physical citizenship. In many of Paul’s letters, he addresses this topic in relation to Jews (historically part of God’s covenant people) and Gentiles (all other nations).

When reading this, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ (which was not disclosed to people in former generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit), namely, that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus. I became a servant of this gospel according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the exercise of his power.To me—less than the least of all the saints—this grace was given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ and to enlighten everyone about God’s secret plan—the mystery that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things. The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms. This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access to God by way of Christ’s faithfulness.
Ephesians 3:4-12, NET

Paul describes the way God works with people in the New Covenant as “the mystery of Christ,” “the unfathomable riches of Christ,” and “God’s secret plan.” It’s an incredible thing that God is still working with a specific group of people, just like He was in the Old Testament. It’s even more amazing that who’s in that group today has nothing to do with your physical heritage. It’s about God choosing you and you choosing to follow Him. It was God’s plan from the beginning to bring human beings into His family, and now that Jesus came in the flesh, died for our sins, and inaugurated the New Covenant the plan is clearer than ever before.

With that incredible fact established, Paul then says “the purpose” of enlightening others about this plan “is that through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers (arche) and the authorities (exousia) in the heavenly realms.” The word translated “multifaceted” is polupoikilos (G4182). In the New Testament, it only appears in this particular verse. It means “much variegated, marked with a variety of colors,” such as in “cloth or a painting” (Thayer). It can also mean “manifold, multifarious, greatly diversified, [and] abounding in variety” (Zodhiates). God’s wisdom isn’t one-dimensional or limited. It’s also not like human thought patterns.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    and your ways are not my ways,” says Yahweh.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways,
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9, WEB

Living With the Wisdom of God

Image of people sitting in church services overlaid with blog's title text and the words, "Our lives, and the church that we're all a part of, ought to demonstrate the wisdom of God’s plan." — Image by Brown Bag Photography from Lightstock

A few years ago, I did a series of blog posts on James’s definition for “the wisdom that is from above.” He said that this wisdom “is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (Jas. 3:17, WEB). This is a description of God’s multifaceted wisdom, though likely not a full description.

Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how unfathomable his ways!
Romans 11:33, NET

We’re never going to understand everything about God, but we’re called to study Him and get to know Him better anyway. We can grow toward perfect understanding and imitation of Him, though we know we won’t completely achieve being “like Him” until after Jesus’s return and our transformation (1 Cor. 15:50-53; 1 John 3:1-3). His wisdom is incredibly complex, but we have the opportunity to witness His wisdom, to be examples of how He wisely interacts with humanity, and even to learn how to use His wisdom in our own lives (1 Cor. 2).

I do not cease to give thanks for you when I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, will give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in your growing knowledge of him,—since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened—so that you can know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the incomparable greatness of his power toward us who believe, as displayed in the exercise of his immense strength
Ephesians 1:16-19, NET

This is one of Paul’s prayers for the church; it’s very similar to another in Colossians 1:9-12. One of Paul’s priorities when praying for God’s people was that God would continue to give wisdom, revelation, and knowledge to them. God’s wisdom growing in us is connected with understanding His calling and the inheritance He offers us as His people. We’re participating in the great mystery, the incredible plan of God whereby He brings human beings into His spiritual family. The way that He works in us–and the way we respond to His work in us–show the rulers and authorities how wise God is. Our lives, and the church that we’re all a part of, ought to demonstrate that God’s way works. He really can do what He says.

Featured image by Pearl from Lightstock

Song Recommendation: “One Day” by Cochren & Co.

Hallowed Be Your Name

1 June, 202431 May, 2024Marissa

Sometimes when I pray, I think of Jesus’s model prayer (often called “the Lord’s Prayer”) as an outline to keep my mind from wandering or to help me think of things I should pray for. As I was doing this about a week ago, I started pondering the phrase “may your name be regarded as holy.” I wanted to think about that idea more deeply. When I pray this, am I praying that I would see God’s name as holy, or that others will? What does it mean to really consider God’s name as holy? Also, why does it say “your name” rather than “you”?

Requesting What Should Be

When you think of the model prayer, you probably think of the traditional phrase “hallowed be your name” rather than “may your name be regarded as holy.” I’m not sure where I first heard this alternate translation. It’s not actually used in any of the English-language translations on Bible Gateway for Matthew 6:9 or Luke 11:2. In the Greek, though, a literal translation is likely closest to “may your name be held in reverence” or “may your name be considered holy” (NET footnote). I probably heard someone use the “regarded as holy” version in a sermon or read about it in a book or article (like this one, for example).

The word “hallowed” isn’t used much in modern English, but it means “regarded as holy; venerated; sacred” (Dictionary.com). It is not simply a statement like “holy is your name,” as we modern readers might assume. Rather, it is a prayer for what should be. The two translations that I quote most often on this blog modernize “hallowed be thy name” (KJV) as, “may your name be kept holy” (WEB) and “may your name be honored” (NET). Those are both good ways to bring this concept into modern English.

“Therefore you shall keep my commandments, and do them. I am Yahweh. You shall not profane my holy name, but I will be made holy among the children of Israel. I am Yahweh who makes you holy, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. I am Yahweh.”
Leviticus 22:31-34, WEB

God’s name is holy, and regarding His name as holy is the proper state of things. It will happen among His people, and it ought to happen among the nations as well. Take a look at one of the things God says about His people to the prophet Ezekiel.

“I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries. I judged them according to their way and according to their deeds. When they came to the nations where they went, they profaned my holy name; in that men said of them, ‘These are Yahweh’s people, and have left his land.’But I had respect for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went.

“Therefore tell the house of Israel, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “I don’t do this for your sake, house of Israel, but for my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. I will sanctify my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am Yahweh,” says the Lord Yahweh, “when I am proven holy in you before their eyes.”
Ezekiel 36:19-23, WEB

God cares a great deal about how people regard His name. Even when His people don’t seem to care about how they represent Him, He still acts with “respect for my holy name,” takes steps to “sanctify my great name,” and proves Himself holy both to His own people and to the nations observing.

Image of a man praying with a Bible on the table in front of him, overlaid with text from Lev. 22:31-33, WEB version: “Therefore you shall keep my commandments, and do them. I am Yahweh. You shall not profane my holy name, but I will be made holy among the children of Israel. I am Yahweh who makes you holy, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. I am Yahweh.” — Image by WhoisliketheLord Studio from Lightstock

His Great Name

In Hebrew thought, names “often include existence, character, and reputation” (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, entry 2405 shem). This is especially true of God’s names. He shares several names with people that reveal aspects of His character, such as El Shaddai (God Almighty). He also shares His personal name, YHWH, typically pronounced as Yahweh (also written as Jehovah, a hold-over from English’s Germanic roots when “J” was pronounced more like “Y”). This name is represented in most English translations as LORD, with all caps to distinguish it from Adonai, the actual Hebrew word for “lord.” One reason I like using the WEB translation for the Old Testament is that they use “Yahweh” instead of “LORD,” making it much easier for us to see when God is using His name rather than a title.

With the concept of “name” tied so closely to someone’s character and reputation, it shouldn’t surprise us that in some Biblical “passages shem Yahweh is so inextricably bound up with the being of God that it functions almost like an appearance of Yahweh (Ex 23:20-21; Isa 30:27)” (TWOT 2405). Similarly, “The name of God also signifies the whole self-disclosure of God in his holiness and truth (Ps 22:22)” (TWOT 2405). Because God Himself is holy, His name should also be regarded as holy.

There are warnings to go along with humans using this name. One of the 10 commandments says, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (Ex. 20:7). We often think of this just as a command not to use God’s name as a swear word, but there’s a lot more to it than that. The word translated “take” can refer to using or carrying something, and since names are tied to character and reputation, this command likely refers to how we represent God (and how we regard His name) as much as it does to how we use His name in our speech.

“You shall not misuse the name of Yahweh your God, for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who misuses his name.”
Exodus 20:7, WEB

Some modern Jews and Messianic believers refer to God as Ha Shem (Hebrew for “the name”) rather than risk taking His name in vain by using one of His names or titles. But Yahweh introduced Himself by name to His people and directly told Moses to use this name, so I wonder sometimes if not using this name (so long as it’s in an appropriately reverential manner) might be a worse blunder than using it. He wants to have a familial relationship with us, not a super formal one.

Moses said to God, “Behold, when I come to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what should I tell them?”

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” and he said, “You shall tell the children of Israel this: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” God said moreover to Moses, “You shall tell the children of Israel this, ‘Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and this is my memorial to all generations.”
Exodus 3:13-15, WEB

I do want to add a quick note here to address the idea that we should only use Hebrew names for God. We can use the names He used to originally reveal Himself, but we don’t have to. He’s perfectly fine with translations, as we can see from the New Testament. For example, the name “Yahweh” doesn’t show up in New Testament writings at all. They use the Greek equivalent of “God,” “Father,” and “Lord” instead. It’s perfectly okay with God to talk about Him and to Him in any language you know (not just Hebrew or Greek) (Acts 2:1-12).

Image of a group of people holding hands to pray overlaid with text from Matt. 6:9-10, LEB version: Therefore you pray in this way: “Our Father who is in heaven, may your name be treated as holy. May your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” — Image by Claudine Chaussé from Lightstock

What Do I Know of Holy?

I’ve talked about the concept of holiness before, but mostly in the context of God making something holy. If a thing or person is holy, they are set apart or sanctified for God’s divine use. But what does it mean that God Himself is holy?

The Greek word translated “hallowed” or “kept holy” is hagiazo (G37). The basic meaning is “to make holy, sanctify.” Usually, it’s about something that wasn’t holy withdrawing (or being set apart) from common things to make them holy. For something that’s already holy, the verb can also mean “to regard and venerate as holy” (Zodhiates, G37 III). God is already and inherently holy, but humans get to choose whether or not they take action to recognize His holiness.

In Hebrew, “holy” is qadash (verb; TWOT 1990), qodesh (noun; TWOT 1990a), or qadosh (adjective; TWOT 1990b). This word “connotes the concept of ‘holiness,’ i.e. the essential nature of that which belongs to the sphere of the sacred and which is thus distinct from the common or profane” (TWOT 1990a). In relation to God specifically, “the biblical viewpoint would refer the holiness of God not only to the mystery of his power, but also to his character as totally good and entirely without evil” (TWOT 1990a). He is ethically perfect, “intrinsically holy,” “free from the moral imperfections and frailties common to man,” and totally distinct from sin or profane things (TWOT 1990b).

To regard God as holy, we need to recognize truths of His essence and character. We need to have a grasp and appreciation of the fact that He is holy to the core of His being. And when we pray, “may your name be held in reverence” or “may your name be considered holy,” we’re praying that others will recognize these truths as well.

Our Response to Holiness

Image of a smiling woman with an arm lifted in praise, overlaid with blog's title text and the words, Why did Jesus tell us to pray, "hallowed be they name" or "may your name be regarded as holy," and what does it mean? — Image by Pearl from Lightstock

God’s holy name also demands something of us. As the model prayer goes on, Jesus counsels us to also pray, “may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10, NET). Part of God’s will is that we become holy, set apart and sanctified for Him.

For I am Yahweh your God. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am holy. … I am Yahweh who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
Leviticus 11:44, 45, WEB

So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect
Matthew 5:48, NET

When we recognize God’s holiness and perfection, we should also realize that we ourselves are far from living up to His standard. If we seek a relationship with Him, we should also seek to live in a way that sets us apart from sin and uncleanness so we become more and more like our perfect God. We don’t need to become obsessed with doing everything just right; the Pharisees, for example, tried keeping the law perfectly but ended up missing the whole point (Matt. 23). But we do need to recognize our need for holiness, turn away from things antithetical to God’s nature, ask for and receive forgiveness through Jesus Christ, and then commit to walking with God as His special people.

There’s a special blessing that God commanded the Old Testament priests to speak over His people. At the end of the blessing, Yahweh said this was how “they shall put my name on the children of Israel” (Num. 6:27, WEB). When God calls or puts His holy name over something, that “signifies ownership, possession, and protection” (TWOT 2405). We belong to Him as His own special people (Ps. 100:3; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 1 Pet. 2:9). He wants us to share in His holiness and charges us with carrying His name into the world as we shine His light into the darkness around us.

Featured image by Pearl from Lightstock

Song Recommendation: “What Do I Know of Holy” by Addison Road