The great leader sat back in his chair, pondered the young manвЂ™s response for a moment and then with a tone that would make a personвЂ™s bones quake, he said, вЂњyoung man, change you attitude, or change your name.What does hallowed be thy name mean? When we were kids, we all learned and memorized poems and songs that we just mechanically recited. The young man replied again in muted tones, вЂњAlexander, sir!вЂќ By now, Alexander the great was becoming indignant and shouted, вЂњYoung man, what is your name?вЂќ With this the young man snapped to attention and responded forcefully, вЂњAlexander, sir!вЂќ The young man ashamedly hung his head and mumbled in a hushed voice, вЂњAlexander sir!вЂќ Alexander the Great strained to hear what the young man had said and then asked the question again. Alexander the Great asked the young man what his name was. Subsequently he was caught and brought before the great leader. This young man was found running from battle during one of AlexanderвЂ™s campaigns. There is a story of a young soldier who served in the army of Alexander the Great. In essence, they are breaking the 3rd Commandment edict to not misuse the LordвЂ™s name. In short, though their words say one thing, their heartвЂ™s response, their behavior and actions are to the contrary. 9They worship me in vain their teachings are but rules taught by men. So they took the consonants out of the name Yahweh and the vowels out of the name Adonai and put them together to create a new name for God, Jehovah.ДЄnd yet, despite this outward reverence for God, Jesus said with regard to these extremely devote Jews that 'вЂ™These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

Now last week we looked at the three OT Names for God:ДЄnd up unto the time of Jesus, the Jews so revered the name of God that they dear not even say it. Now some people pray вЂњHallowed be Thy NameвЂќ like theyвЂ™d say вЂњGod bless America, or вЂњHail to the QueenвЂќ.Д«ut when Jesus tells us to pray, вЂњHallowed be Thy nameвЂќ, HeвЂ™s telling us to do more than to salute the Lord, HeвЂ™s telling us that the Lord desires for us to ascend to His very heart and there recognize who He is and what He has done for us.

So when Jesus teaches us to pray, вЂњHallowed be thy nameвЂќ, HeвЂ™s telling us to give honor to the Father who created us, and desires so deeply to have a loving and nurturing relationship with us. In essence, God is only as good as His name. Why is this so important to the Lord? ItвЂ™s important because GodвЂ™s name represent Himself, His nature and His being. In the KJV it says, Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain. 5:11 'You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. In the 10 Commandments, the Lord emphatically says,Дeut. And when we know these 4 truths, we will never be able approach Him in the same way again.ДЎst truth Jesus wants us to see is that God has a name: When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, вЂњOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy NameвЂќ, He wanted them to recognize at least 4 distinctive truths about God. Names are important us! And when we pray, вЂњOur Father, hallowed be thy nameвЂќ, we need to recognize that it is important to the Lord as well. It is said that a person is only as good as their name and as William Shakespeare said in Romeo and Juliet WhatвЂ™s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. They tell you where you come from and they represent where and who you are. To reconnect with my families heritage and my families name. This is more than just a trip, I feel the need to connect. Next year, Lannette and I plan on going to Scotland to visit the land of my ancestors. My dad was the youngest of 11 and most of his brotherвЂ™s and sisters where born just outside of Glasow, Scotland. When my grandpa and grandma came from Scotland through Ellis Island in 1906, they change the family clan name from Colquhoun to Calhoun, so that it would sound more American. I actually like the name David better than George, but George is all IвЂ™ve ever known. I was later given the middle name David at my Christening. 22, (George WashingtonвЂ™s birthday) 1957 in Paterson, N.J.

Lord in heaven hallowed be thy name