There are a lot of interesting studies out there looking at the various names of God. One thing that we did when I was in a group that studied the Lord's Prayer was look at the prominence that Jesus gives to His Father's Name. You may remember that the Lord's Prayer, for example in Luke 11 starts by saying, "Our Father, hallowed be your name." Jesus mentioned his Father name as a priority in prayer. The idea of "hallowed" means respect, revere, honored. Jesus was concerned that his Father be honored.
As it turns out, God the Father also mentions that he deserves as our creator and redeemer honor and glory. When Moses was calling out the Israelites from Egypt, God mentioned that he would have the Jews leave Egypt in a way that would demonstrate God's power and glory.
God says to Moses, "And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it." Exodus 7:5
The plagues made the Egyptians realize they were not dealing with some idol made of wood or stone, but a real, powerful and living God.
Later, when the Israelites forsook God's name and began worshipping idols and the Baal, God was again concerned for his name. He was concerned that people would identify his name with the behavior of his people. By saying nothing, it would look as though God was pleased with his people. Over and over again, God tells the people that they are to be holy for he is holy. They were suppose to reflect the one whose name they were under. When they did not, God disciplined them.
One of the earliest bible stories that I remember is the story of David and Goliath. You may remember the story of David coming to the front and hearing Goliath mock God and the Israelites. Everyone was afraid of him including Saul because he was so big and strong. Goliath came from a long line of giants and had been a solider most of his life. It is important to realize why God gave David the victory that he did that day. Look at what David said to Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:45-46 "David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistines army to the birds of the air and the beast of the earth and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel." Please notice, David was concerned not about his own name, for he was just a little shepherd boy, youngest in his family. David was concerned about God's name and how it was being mocked. From the sound of it, David had heard enough and didn't lack any faith at all that God was going to give him a victory.
There always seems to be at least one in every family. Someone who seemed to run around wild like they have no common sense at all. Sometimes they are referred to the "black sheep" of the family. These are family members the family would often like to act as if they are not a part. They shame the family because of their actions. While, at the same time, other people bring honor to their family. They have buildings named after them or sometimes streets or hospital. These are people who make their family proud because of their unselfishness or their generosity. Paul says in Ephesians 4:1 that we should "live a life worthy of the calling you have received." One of our main priorities is to bring glory and honor to God and we do that by living the kind of life that tells others that we know Him. Sadly, in many cases, you can't tell the difference between those who profess to be believers and those who are not these days. What about you? Can people tell what family your a part of? Can people tell your a part of God's family?
