"It is true that God's name is holy in itself, but we ask in this prayer that it also become holy in and among us." Martin Luther
Beginning with the first petition of the Lord's prayer, Luther in his explanations provides a pattern of understanding that I've always loved. God's name is holy. It is holy in and of itself. There is nothing that I can or cannot do that can affect that in any way. God will always be holy regardless of what I, or anyone else, does in the world. God is God. God is holy.
However, what we pray for is that God's name may be holy "in and among us." Now that's something I can control. By my words and actions, I can seek to embody God's holiness. Because of my sin, I can never be holy as God is holy. But there is a way of being and acting that can reflect God's holiness. As the devotion says, "To be holy means we are set apart for works of mercy and justice in the world." As Luther cries out in his explanation, "To this end help us, dear Father in heaven!"
While it is relatively easy to start my day making a commitment to honor and serve God, that pure and sincere goal may fade as the day progresses. Help me, O God, to persist in honoring you throughout this day!
ReplyDelete