August 5

Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy Word is truth. John 17, 17.

What is God's name? It is that by which He wants us to know Him. Every page of the Bible makes known to us His name, His works, and His will. Especially in Christ Jesus has He revealed Himself to us. Yea, in Christ God has become our dear heavenly Father; that is His name, with which we are allowed to address Him in the Lord's Prayer. In Christ, God has become our Emmanuel, as it is written: "They shall call His name Emmanuel, which, being interpreted, is, God with us." In Christ, God has become our Savior and Redeemer. We now call Him by the sweet name of Jesus; but he that calls and sees Jesus sees and calls in Him also the Father. This is the name of God, of which Peter said: "There is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." This is the blessed name which has the promise: "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Of this name of God or the Lord Jesus Christ we pray in the First Petition of the Lord's Prayer that it may be hallowed, that it may be kept holy, that is, we should hold it sacred among us and others, and thus magnify the glory of God on earth.

How is God's name hallowed? By pure doctrine and holy life

we hallow the name of God. When the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, without omissions and without additions, then the name of God shines among us in all its heavenly brightness. And when we, as the children of God, also lead a holy life according to the Word of God; when not only our doctrine is pure, but also our lives are godly and Christian in deed and in truth, then the name of God is seen on our face and in our whole life, that also others become willing to accept our testimony and together with us praise the holy name of God. However, by false doctrine and ungodly life the holy name of God is profaned. From this preserve us, O heavenly Father!

Prayer.

O heavenly Father, let Thy Word dwell richly among Thy children, and may they daily grow in grace and in the knowledge of salvation! And may we by the power of Thy Holy Spirit be strengthened unto every good word and work. Teach us to hallow and praise and glorify Thee in all Thy great and manifold works; and enable us so to order our whole life, our thoughts, our words, and our deeds, that Thy name may not be profaned and blasphemed, neither by us nor through any fault of ours, but receive due honor and praise; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

Thy name be hallowed! Help us, Lord, To keep in purity Thy Word And lead according to Thy name A holy life, untouched by blame; Let no false teachings do us hurt, All poor deluded souls convert.