Going all the way back to the 60’s (yeah, I go back even before that) – I heard discussions about how to make the Gospel relevant to people. Might I kindly but firmly say, that such thinking is completely upside down and misses the point of the Gospel entirely. In our preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the goal is to bring people back into a life of relevance to God! We were created FOR Him. He does not exist for us. In the Fall, we stepped away from our created purposes to follow our own plans and desires. And through the Gospel, we are reconciled back to God, so that we might once again take up His plans and purposes in the world. This is why the first petition Jesus taught us is of the highest importance.

‌In Luke 2 we’re told the account of Jesus when He was 12 years old, staying behind the returning caravan, in Jerusalem, after the Passover. His parents searched for Him for 3 days. When they finally find Him in the Temple interacting with the teachers there – His annoyed and no doubt worried parents – chasten Him for His action. His reply is noteworthy: “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

‌He’s 12. But what is He about? His Father’s business. He is already living with an eye well past His immediate place and time. His heart and mind are set on the Father, on His plans, His purposes, His will.

‌So it is when He teaches us to pray, He seeks to help us come into that same heart/head space ourselves. To be drawn out of ourselves for a moment, to consider matters of cosmic importance. To consider God as God – and what that means. And as counterintuitive, as mind-boggling as it sounds – to pray for God in some way. This is truly astounding. What are we to pray for first? That the Father’s name would be hallowed. That the core issue in setting the cosmos right again – is seeing that the Father is honored, loved, respected, revered and “holified” once again – in all the universe.

‌Now this phrase, “hallowed be your name” can be thought of in many aspects, but let us consider only 4.

‌Jesus is forever desirous that His Father been seen and loved as He sees and loves Him because first and foremost – it is right. It is setting the cosmos to rights. And, because in it, we will find ultimate blessing ourselves.

‌Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

‌1 – Let your glory and wonder be restored and made real TO me, IN me, and THROUGH me.

‌All blessing comes from The Father. He is the source of all good. Good, without any defect. “The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.” (Prov. 10:22) But when He is in any way suspect in our eyes; when we imagine that in some way, any way, His love toward us is defective and He does not have our best interest at heart or has not used His best wisdom in ordering His providences in our lives – we besmirch Him. So we need a fresh sense of His perfections and goodness toward us in all things.

‌When Peter is writhing to his exiled and suffering brethren, by The Spirit he writes: “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy.” (1 Pet. 3:13-15a) The way he tells them to endure suffering, must contain a heart and mind that is anchored in the fact that Christ is both Lord over their circumstances, and, that He is holy. That He cannot sin against them in His appointments. That He cannot do them wrong in any way. And we must begin there too beloved.

‌With all our needs, all our sorrows, all our cares, concerns, doubts, fears and worries – Father, help MY heart and mind, to hallow you aright. Be that holy, perfect, glorious, magnificent, all-loving, gracious, kind and compassionate sovereign TO ME! Be hallowed to ME right now. In this place in these circumstances. At this moment – open my eyes to the wonder of you afresh. And this, so that I might live in that reality, and might then proclaim that reality to the world.

‌A number of years ago, there was a TV commercial for Ritz Crackers. Andy Griffith was the spokesman, and the tag line was: “What are you hungry for when you don’t know what you’re hungry for?” Their answer? “Something on a crisp Ritz Cracker.”

‌Christians, what do you pray for when you don’t know what to pray for? That the Father’s name would be hallowed – and first and foremost to yourself. So that you may walk in love and confidence and trusting in a God who is so great, so glorious, so wondrous, so loving and true – that every dark shadow is blasted away by the refulgence of His bright glory.

‌Nothing, nothing will so strengthen, so cheer and refresh the soul as a fresh vision of His glory will. And so it is He teaches us to pray in this way before anything else. For all else will flow from this marvelous place.

‌As Spurgeon once wrote: “Depend upon it, there are countless holy influences which flow from the habitual maintenance of great thoughts of God, as there are incalculable mischiefs which flow from our small thoughts of him. The root of false theology is belittling God; and the essence of true divinity is greatening God, magnifying him, and enlarging our conceptions of his majesty and his glory to the utmost degree.” ^{Spurgeon, C. H. 1891. “A Harp of Ten Strings.” In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, 37:446. London: Passmore & Alabaster.}

‌Humor me as I take yet one more day to tease this out just a bit more. Trust me, it will be worth it. But for today, if you will take just five minutes to get alone with the Lord, and plead for the hallowing of His name afresh TO you, IN you and THROUGH you, you will find a new wellspring of freshness and joy welling up.

‌Our Father in heaven – Oh please, let your glorious wonder wash over our souls afresh today. May we bow in a true and renewed sense of your holy wonder even this very hour.

‌

‌

‌