THE FAMILY ALTAR

May 21.

"Hallowed be Thy name."   Matt. 6:9.

What is the true purpose of our life in this world and in

the world to come ? The Lord Jesus tells us in this First Petition :

to hallow the name of our Father who is in heaven. All creation

has but that one purpose : to glorify and exalt the great and holy

name of God. For of Him, and through Him, and to Him are

all things. (Eomans 11, 36.) It is doubly our duty, because we

are not only created by our heavenly Father, but also redeemed

from sin, and death, and wrath by the blood of His Son. "Ye are

bought with a price," says Paul (1 Cor. 6, 20) ; "therefore glorify

God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." How often

we forget this sacred duty, and compel God to complain of us:

"A son honoreth his father, and a servant his master; if, then,

I be a father, where is Mine honor ? And if I be a master, where

is My fear?" (Mai. 1, 6.) Verily, this petition humbles us deeply

before our heavenly Father and compels us to ask fervently and

sincerely: "Help us, Thy weak children, 0 Father in heaven, to

hallow Thy great and blessed name!" When do we hallow it?

The Catechism says very happily: "When the Word of God is

taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God,

also lead a holy life according to it." In His holy Word the

inspired Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, God has re-

vealed His saving name to us. To detract from its truth, to prove

indifferent to its purity and corrupt it by false, human doctrine

is to profane and blaspheme the great and holy God Himself.

What a terrible sin! Again, what a terrible sin it is to claim

that you are a Christian, even boast of your orthodox faith, and

then dishonor your Father in heaven by an unchristian, godless

life! It is true we cannot keep God's name absolutely pure and

holy while in this sinful flesh. Even the holy Apostle Paul is

compelled to confess: "Not as though I had already attained,

either were already perfect." But if we be true children of God,

we shall daily strive after holiness, without which no man shall

see the Lord. Therefore let us pray : —

Dear heavenly Father, Thy name is, indeed, holy in itself; we can-

not add to its stainless purity and sanctity, or detract from it. But we

pray Thee, help us in Thy great mercy to hold and keep it sacred among us and our children. Let us never use Thy holy name in vain. Let us never dishonor Thee by teaching, believing, or living otherwise than Thy holy Word teaches. Forgive where we in thought, 

word, or deed have sinned against Thy holy name. We ask it for Jesus' sake. Amen.