For His name’s sake - Ps. 23:3 - “He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake”. With Brother Randall’s recent writings on sheep, we have all be led back to Psalm 23 to do a re-read. Beyond hearing this wonderful chapter read at many funerals, or when we are looking for comfort, we seldom spend much time in it. My attention has been drawn to the last part of verse 3, “for His name’s sake.” Let me share what my thoughts recently have been on this phrase.
Part of my summer leisure time has been in working on a “book” - or rather family genealogy - really simply a few pages of picture genealogy. It has been fun to put together some “antique” pictures of my family members from previous generations - most of whom I never knew but have been prompted to wonder about their lives.
All of this brings my attention to the scripture mentioned above. We are all taught from our earliest memories, not to bring any disgrace on the family name. Good children keep all of our behaviours and endeavours in line with this teaching from our parents. Make the family proud of you. Don’t hurt the family name.
Imagine how we would live our lives if we kept this teaching in the forefront of our minds - “for His name’s sake”. We who have been born again, are now part of a new family, with a new Father, and a new family name. I’m sure I am guilty of slipping up occasionally - maybe not so occasionally - but I do think of this often - would He be pleased with this path that I am taking? Living to not bring any disgrace or displeasure to His name - to the family name, “for His name’s sake.”
I’ve been reminded, too, of a sermon I heard in the mid-90's on a scripture in Isaiah - on “marring the face of Jesus”. Let’s take a moment to look at those powerful words. Isaiah 52:14, “Just as there were many who were appalled at him, his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness”. The speaker pointed out that already when Jesus died for our sins and the sins of the world, His face was “marred beyond human likeness” for us. She seemed to feel that as He has already paid such a great cost for us, if we continue to sin against Him, we are in affect marring the face of Jesus again, and again.
Whether or not this idea changes the context of the scripture, it is worth thinking about. How we would not want to once again “mar (spoil the perfection of) the face of Jesus” because of our disobedience to Him.
So, this is what I have been pondering over the past few days. I will work harder at bringing honour to my “family” name, “for His name’s sake”.
Submitted by Naida
Part of my summer leisure time has been in working on a “book” - or rather family genealogy - really simply a few pages of picture genealogy. It has been fun to put together some “antique” pictures of my family members from previous generations - most of whom I never knew but have been prompted to wonder about their lives.
All of this brings my attention to the scripture mentioned above. We are all taught from our earliest memories, not to bring any disgrace on the family name. Good children keep all of our behaviours and endeavours in line with this teaching from our parents. Make the family proud of you. Don’t hurt the family name.
Imagine how we would live our lives if we kept this teaching in the forefront of our minds - “for His name’s sake”. We who have been born again, are now part of a new family, with a new Father, and a new family name. I’m sure I am guilty of slipping up occasionally - maybe not so occasionally - but I do think of this often - would He be pleased with this path that I am taking? Living to not bring any disgrace or displeasure to His name - to the family name, “for His name’s sake.”
I’ve been reminded, too, of a sermon I heard in the mid-90's on a scripture in Isaiah - on “marring the face of Jesus”. Let’s take a moment to look at those powerful words. Isaiah 52:14, “Just as there were many who were appalled at him, his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness”. The speaker pointed out that already when Jesus died for our sins and the sins of the world, His face was “marred beyond human likeness” for us. She seemed to feel that as He has already paid such a great cost for us, if we continue to sin against Him, we are in affect marring the face of Jesus again, and again.
Whether or not this idea changes the context of the scripture, it is worth thinking about. How we would not want to once again “mar (spoil the perfection of) the face of Jesus” because of our disobedience to Him.
So, this is what I have been pondering over the past few days. I will work harder at bringing honour to my “family” name, “for His name’s sake”.
Submitted by Naida
posted by Randall | 10:35 a.m.
3 Comments:
Hi Miss Naida,Coffee here,I have just finished listening to Bible.com[Romans]the whole chapter,and thought,I would check the blog,its [11:11]Wed/Aug.15th/07 you would think I would have better things to do with my time,than sitting around listening to someone read me the bible,or reading someones comments on the bible,but when you stop to think about it,what better way to spend time is there.
The blogs about sheep are so good and your blog today about family [family pride] makes me think about the "One Lost Sheep".Think this one lost sheep could have been the black sheep of the family,the one that none of us wants anything to do with,don't even want to be seen with,and would never want anyone to think we could be friends with.Could it be that this lost sheep[black sheep] is left out on its' own in hopes that it will be lost,it would make things,so much easier if we could just forget about this sheep.Then we remember about how important even one sheep is to JESUS,and as [good christians],we start to look for our lost [brother or sister].I think the worst thing that could happen,would be for us to find this lost sheep,because we wouldn't know how to rescue it anyway,or if we would even want to.We the family,because of our [pride],like to keep hidden[lost] our black sheep,lets try to remember,we are all "black sheep",yes Jesus sees us all the same,so what do we have to be so proud of,we must learn,that there is no place for pride of any kind with GOD.
Another little thought,I just had is when we look for the lost sheep,we put ourselves in a place where we judge,as a sheep[black,lost sheep]ourselves how can we judge,leave the judging to our "[GOOD SHEPHERD]" CHRIST JESUS, who's judgement we can always trust.
Coffee
Naida This is a good word. I would not have about about our actions bringing dishonour to the name of God.It is something we all better start thinking about every day. About the scripture on marring the face of Jesus,Ithink every time we sin He feels the same pain that He felt on the cross.I think we all better work hard at bringing honour to the name of God.
C.M.
Great post Naida,looking forward to more of your posts. The family name is so important even to those who do not name the name of Jesus. It calls people everywhere to family reunions and injects a certain pride in us when we declare thaat we are so and so's son or daughter. The greatest family in all the universe is the family of God. I'm so glad my name is "Christian"
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