“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name” is how the most well-known prayer in Christianity begins. This prayer was taught by the Lord Jesus Himself (Matthew 6:9-13), and it was not by chance that these words were placed there. Right from this first sentence, we learn what God expects of us: that His name is to be sanctified.
This request is becoming more urgent due to the growing lack of respect for sacred things. Around the world, we see people treating faith lightly and without reverence, ignoring God’s command not to take His name in vain (Exodus 20:7). Every day, faith is mocked—whether in films, books, songs, or jokes. This comes not only from non-Christians, who may not realise the seriousness of their actions, but also, surprisingly, from those who call themselves Christians. Today’s society reflects what the Bible foretold: “And My name is blasphemed continually every day” (Isaiah 52:5).
To understand the meaning of sanctifying God’s name, we first need to understand that when we refer to God as “Father,” He is not like our earthly fathers, who we have for a short period of time. God is the Eternal Father. And understanding why we call Him “Father” is the first step to sanctifying His name.
When Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father in heaven,” He was showing us who we should pray to—the One who created everything. He is the beginning of all that exists. He has no father or mother because He is self-existent. He was not created or born, and as the Almighty God, He began creating everything. So, when we call Him “Our Father,” we are recognising Him as our Lord—the One who brought us into being through our parents.
In the past, God revealed Himself to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel but did not reveal His name. When He spoke to Moses from the burning bush, He simply said: “I Am Who I Am” (Exodus 3:14). But when His Son came into the world, His name was revealed: Jesus. This revelation came through a young woman named Mary when she was told that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and she would bring forth a Son named Jesus.
For the first time in human history, God’s Name was revealed: the Lord Jesus Christ—Father (Lord), Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit (Christ), three Persons in one Name,”
This understanding of the holiness and greatness of God becomes evident when a person receives the Holy Spirit, because He is God Himself dwelling within them.
Those who have the Holy Spirit value Him above all else. They do not rely on material things or people, because their true fulfilment comes from God.
That is why we invite you to join us for our study on ‘Hallowed Be Your Name,’ where we will explore this topic further. This Wednesday, 26th February, we will also partake in the Lord’s Supper. Come and deepen your understanding of what it means to sanctify God’s name in your life.
Event: Hallowed Be Your Name
Day and time: Wednesday 26th February at 7:30pm (also at 7am, 10am, and 3pm)
Location: Your local Universal Church
Notifications