Sake of My Name

[S] Ezekiel 20:9,22 --
 ⁹"But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made Myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.
 ²²"But I withdrew My hand and acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

[O] In these two verses what caught my eyes was "for the sake of My name".  God's name must be honored as mentioned in the Ten Commandments and He is very serious about that.  Even in Exodus 20:7 God says, "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain."  So I began to ask myself what's so big deal about the name but then I answered it myself quickly because the name carries the whole character of that person.  It is truly the identification of that person.  So names should not be taken lightly or to belittle about.  So based on this teaching my children about not using God's name in vain is brought to a new level of seriousness because it may just be the choice of words to them now but having that training now will help them to think about their choices in life down the road to ask the question of is my choice highlighting the name of God to others or is it disgracing instead.

[A] Ask the question of: Is my choice in life for the sake of God's name?

[P] Your name O God is what I want to lift up through my life.  Please grant me the un-ending desire to do this for the rest of my life. May others see Your name being echoed through my life and not of my own name.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.