In 2 Chronicles 7:14 God appears to Solomon after the dedication of the temple and declared "and My people who are called by My name...." What is the significance of being called by God's name? How does that change the way we live? How can we "hallow God's name" through our behavior? What does it mean to "hallow" God's name? Other than the fact that Jesus commands us here to hallow His name, why is it important? What aspects of society (and religious behavior) have caused us to lose respect for God's name?
A number of years ago when I was working in Leominster, Massachusetts I had been treating an older patient for about 2 weeks. Often her adult children were present in the room while she was receiving her respiratory treatments. One Sunday afternoon as I was leaving her room after her treatments one of her daughters asked me as I was walking out the door, "You wouldn't happen to be a Seventh-day Adventist would you?" As a 22 year old introvert it was not my habit to talk about my religion, as such I had not said ANYTHING to them about my religious beliefs so it caught me a little bit off guard. After regaining my composure I turned around and replied, "As a matter of fact, I am. Why do you ask?" Her answer stunned me even more, "We've been watching you for the past two weeks and have noticed that you are different from everyone else in this hospital. The way you walk, the way you talk, the way you act, the way you dress, even the way you cut your hair tells us you are either a Seventh-day Adventist or a Jehovah's Witness. We are Jehovah's Witnesses and we know you are not one of us so we figured you must me a Seventh-day Adventist."
I had no idea that people were watching me but it provided a reality check to help me realize that I represented something bigger than myself. I would suggest that I represent more than just the Seventh-day Adventist church, I represent God. How well am I doing at presenting a picture of God that hallows His name?
