Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 11: 1-13 "HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME..." Luke 11:2"
Day 133 – Luke 11
Text: Luke 11: 1-13
“HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME…” Luke 11:2
In order to understand the import of what the Lord Jesus sought to teach His Disciples, we have to understand the significance of the “Name of God”.
In the Old Testament, we learn that God valued His Name greatly. A quick study of Malachi 1 would reveal to us the importance of how we must always have the highest regard for the Name of the Lord!
It is possible to end up disregarding and dishonouring the Name of God! Malachi the prophet was sent with a stern word of rebuke for none other than the priests of Israel! They were charged with the sin of dishonouring God’s Name!
THE SIN OF DESPISING GOD’S NAME
Malachi minced no words when he addressed the priests, who had shown disregard for God’s Name,
“A son honours his father,
and a servant his master.
If then I am the Father,
Where is my honour?
And if I am a Master,
Where is My reverence?
Says the Lord of Hosts
To you priests who despise My Name,
Yet, you say,
‘In what way have we despised Your Name?’ “
Malachi 1:6
How does a person end up despising God’s Name?
1.When he does not honour God!
2. When he does not reverence Him!
How do we regard God when we enter into His House? How do we regard God when we speak to Him in prayer? Do we honour Him? Do we reverence Him? When we do not have a proper regard for God, we are in danger of despising God’s Name.
The priests were supposed to supervise the worship of God. Old Testament worship involved the sacrifice of animals! In the Mosaic Law, clear laws were given as to how worship was to be conducted. Only healthy animals were allowed to be used in sacrificial worship!
To offer sick animals was regarded as a great offence to the Name of God! In other words, offering anything less than the best is unacceptable. Disregard for clear guidelines written in the Mosaic-Levitical laws was the same as despising God’s Name! This was intolerable! God’s Name was at stake! Those who were guilty had to be rebuked – even if they were priests!
“MY NAME SHALL BE GREAT… SAYS THE LORD” Malachi 1:11
Malachi delivered a powerful message to the priests. There was no mistaking the anger of the Lord when this message was delivered!
“For from the rising of the sun,
even to its going down,
My Name shall be great among the Gentiles;
In every place incense shall be offered
To My Name,
And a pure offering;
For My Name shall be great
Among the nations,
Says the LORD of hosts.”
Malachi 1:11
The indignation of the Lord was unmistakable! The despising of God’s Name ends in being cursed by the Lord! Let us read the solemn words written in Malachi,
“But cursed be the deceiver
who has in its flock a male,
and takes a vow.
But sacrifices to the Lord
What is blemished-
For I am a GREAT KING.”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“And My Name is to be feared
Among the nations.”
Malachi 1:14
THE HIGHEST REGARD FOR GOD WHEN WE PRAY TO HIM
The Lord Jesus taught His Disciples that they may regard God as their Father in Heaven. That was a special privilege that was extended to all who had placed their trust in Him.
However, at no time must the Disciples become “familiar” with God. They must always have the highest regard for God, their Father in Heaven! He is to be loved, honoured, and revered all at the same time!
“YOU SHALL NOT BE LIKE THE HYPOCRITES…” (Matthew 6:5)
In Matthew’s writing of the application of “The Lord’s Prayer”, he placed this teaching of how to pray against the backdrop of the way many practised praying. There were those who were called “hypocrites”. These offered prayers with the desire to impress men.
Matthew also recorded an important teaching of the Lord Jesus. He warned His Disciples that they must never make “vain repetitions as the heathens do” (Matthew 6:7). This warning is fitting. Let us NEVER merely recite “The Lord’s Prayer”. Let us learn to revere our Father in Heaven.
Webmaster’s Note :
If you are seeking a deeper level of understanding of prayer, please check out Pastor Charlie Tan’s excellent weekly articles on The Theology of Prayer , which includes a more indepth study of The Lord’s Prayer and how it applies to our prayer-life.