Drawing Nigh to God....series

Drawing Nigh to God

by

Minnie E. Dauphinee

 

 

After This Manner Pray...."Hallowed Be Thy Name"

 

Some years ago a picture of Christ on the cross portrayed Him not with eyes closed but with eyes of infinite love looking upon the beholder. The room in which the picture was shown was darkened, only the picture itself being lighted. Many people had gathered to look at it. A hushed silence prevailed until a man in the front row, forgetting his surroundings, whispered audibly to himself, "I love Him." One standing at his side heard the whisper and said, "Yes, I love Him too." Quickly the words went around from one another , until it seemed that there was a reverent response from every heart.

To hallow the name of the Lord requires that we love Him supremely and that we always speak His name with deep reverence. "The soul of the Christian religion is reverence."

Our Father in heaven calls us His "sons and daughters" (2 Corinthians 6:18) No greater honor could be ours than to be adopted into the family of God. But with this honor comes a weighty responsibility- the responsibility of keeping the family name untarnished. Mr. Trumbell, who worked with D. L. Moody, used an illustration that helps us to understand better our responsibility. He said, "Suppose Mr. Moody adopted into his family a street waif, giving him his name. Naturally he might say to him, 'You must understand, my son, that where ever you go, people will say, "There goes young Moody." I value my name, and don't want it disgraced. See that you take care of it. Wherever you are and whatever you do, remember that your name is Moody.' "

One of the saddest experiences related in all the Bible centers around Peter. He brought dishonor upon God's name by denying that he even knew Jesus. Just a few hours before Peter did this, Jesus had warned him that Satan desired to have him(Luke 22:31). But Peter is not the only Christian whom Satan would destroy. He has evil designs on each one of us. He knows that if he can cause us in word or act to deny Christ, we dishonor the worthy name by which we are called, and our prayers are powerless. How important, then, that we heed the Saviour's admonition and constantly pray, "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed by they name."