Has anyone attempted to visit Her Majesty the Queen when in residence at Buckingham Palace or the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street in London without\u00a0prior permission to do so? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The answer from us all is likely to be \u2018no\u2019, of course not!\u00a0No-one could do that without being stopped and questioned by the police, and with good reason given the number of terrorist attacks in London in recent years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But even without the relatively recent security upgrades there was absolutely no chance of visiting either of these two people. There had to be a very good reason for you to be in their presence. However, even assuming you got through the police security cordon and stood in their presence you might wonder what on earth you would talk about with them.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But don\u2019t\u00a0waste time worrying about that!\u00a0A much more serious and important question concerns how we speak to God in prayer;\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jesus said:\u00a0\u2018This\u00a0then, is how you should pray:\u00a0\u2018\u201cOur Father in heaven,\u00a0<\/em>hallowed be Your name<\/em><\/strong>\u2026\u00a0<\/em>What does it mean to \u2018hallow\u2019 or \u2018to honour\u2019 God\u2019s name?\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>A name then stood for the whole character of the person. Therefore, the name of God stands for the nature, character and personality of God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n David in Psalm 9:10 wrote:\u00a0Those who know your name<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.<\/em>That is, the people who know what God is like, through His revelation to us in the Bible, will trust Him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n David in Psalm 20:7 declared:\u00a0Some trust in chariots and some in horses,\u00a0but\u00a0<\/em>we trust in the name of the Lord<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0our God.\u00a0<\/em>The same principle is in evidence in the New Testament. In John 17:6 in the New International Version\u00a0<\/em>we read these words in Jesus\u2019 prayer to His Father in heaven.\u00a0I have revealed\u00a0<\/em>You<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0to those whom You gave Me out of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to me and they have obeyed Your word.\u00a0<\/em>However, a more literal translation of the words of Jesus,\u00a0records Jesus as saying:\u00a0I have revealed\u00a0<\/em>Your name<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0to those whom You gave Me\u2026\u00a0Your Name<\/em>\u00a0is simply an expression signifying God Himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So what is Jesus saying to His followers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1.\u00a0Don\u2019t\u00a0misuse His name<\/strong>\u00a0The standard Old Testament statement on this subject came at the time of the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses. Exodus 20:7 declared:\u00a0You shall not misuse the name of the Lord<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who\u00a0<\/em>misuses His name<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Be careful how\u00a0you use God\u2019s\u00a0name in your conversations.\u00a0Orthodox Jews when reading the Old Testament in synagogue services, I understand, when they come across the divine name in the text say \u2018Adonai\u2019 (Lord) so as not to use God\u2019s name. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This reverence for the name of the Lord is good, as long as it is matched in daily living with respect to God\u2019s ways, though sadly we\u00a0have\u00a0all\u00a0fallen short of the standards we proclaim. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Time and again the Psalmists remind us of the name of the Lord and associate it with His character and issue a call for reverence in the light of what He has done. Psalm 111:9 would sum up the Jewish approach to God\u2019s name.\u00a0He provided redemption for His people; He ordained His covenant forever\u2014\u00a0<\/em>holy and awesome is His name<\/em><\/strong>.<\/em>\u00a0Something to think about:\u00a0Do you misuse His name?\u00a0Do you refer to God in your speech as an exclamation\u00a0mark filling in between things you wanted to say? Or are you careful with your choice of words?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2.\u00a0Do honour His name!<\/strong>\u00a0Jesus in His earthly life was primarily concerned with honouring His Father\u2019s name. In John\u2019s Gospel chapter twelve\u00a0Jesus showed His deepest concern for the honour of His Father\u2019s name at a Passover Festival in Jerusalem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He had been speaking about His forthcoming death and was overwhelmed with emotion. He cried out:\u00a0Father, glorify\u00a0<\/em>Your name<\/em><\/strong>!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”\u00a0<\/em>When the veil is drawn back and we can see the heart of Jesus in His prayer life in John 17. His supreme concern was the name and honour of the Father.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n In John 17:6 He said\u00a0I have revealed\u00a0<\/em>Your name<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0to those whom You gave Me\u2026<\/em>\u00a0was His firm and truthful assessment of the way He had lived His life on earth. What would you and I have to say to the Father about how we have honoured His name in our generation, amongst the people with whom we regularly mix? The Covid-19 virus crisis has been a reality check about the way human beings were using and misusing our planet. God has entrusted care of this world to us. But if other creatures on earth could speak, how would they view our track record\u00a0as human beings? In summary, what do\u00a0you and\u00a0I need to learn most about honouring God\u2019s name today? Take time to reflect quietly on what this might mean for you personally \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our song for reflection is: Restore O Lord the honour of Your name! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n