“And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.” (Ezekiel 36:23)
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17)
The First Petition of the Lord’s Prayer
Do you know what “Hallowed” means?
We don’t use the term outside the church very much…or inside the church very much outside of the Lord’s Prayer. So, I’d understand if you weren’t sure. Hallowed means to be holy and to be held as holy.
“Hallowed be Your name.”
At first, this can seem like an unusual prayer. After all, isn’t God’s name already holy?
Yes.
God’s name is holy whether we acknowledge it or not. We cannot make it more holy than it already is.
So why does Jesus teach us to pray this?
The catechism answers simply:
“God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy among us also.”
Notice those last two words.
“Among us.”
This prayer is not asking God to change.
It is asking Him to change us.
God’s name is much more than the word “God.” In the Bible, His name represents who He is—His character, His promises, His saving work, and His reputation among His people.
In fact, God is called by many names in the Bible:
I could go on, but the reason God is called by so many names is that these names describe God’s character. He saves. He’s with us. He provides, and so on.
So how is God’s name kept holy among us?
Luther points to two things.
Those two belong together.
A church may have beautiful music, a welcoming atmosphere, and many activities. But if God’s Word is no longer taught faithfully, His name is no longer being kept holy there.
Likewise, we may know God’s Word well. But if our lives consistently contradict what we confess, we bring dishonor to His name before the world. After all, God has placed His name on you in baptism and Bible calls you His ambassador. You represent God to the world.
None of us does this perfectly.
There are times when our words, attitudes, and actions fail to reflect the God we claim to follow. We all give people reasons to question whether our faith is genuine.
That is why we pray this petition.
We are asking God to keep drawing us back to His truth, to guard His Church from false teaching, and shape our lives so that they reflect His goodness.
And notice something wonderful.
Jesus Himself prayed this prayer perfectly.
He always honored His Father’s name. He always spoke the truth. He always lived in complete obedience to His Father’s will.
Then He went to the cross for those of us who have failed to do the same.
Because of Him, our failures are forgiven.
Because of Jesus, we can ask God to forgive us and know He will…but we’ll get to that part of the prayer a little later.
Also, because of Him, the Holy Spirit continues to sanctify us—to make us holy—not so that we can earn God’s favor, but because we already have it in Christ.
So today, when you pray, “Hallowed be Your name,” you are asking God to do His gracious work in you.
Let’s pray…
Heavenly Father,
Your name is holy and worthy of all honor and praise. Keep me steadfast in Your Word, and guard me from falsehood and error. By Your Holy Spirit, shape my life so that my words and actions reflect Your goodness and bring honor to Your name. Through Jesus Christ, my Lord.
Amen.
As part of your devotion time, I encourage you to also pray for at least some of the following:
After praying for these people, you may want to finish your devotion time with the Lord’s Prayer…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. They will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and every. Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
