Hallowed or Hollowed? Webster defines "Hallow" this way -"to make holy, set apart for holy use; to respect greatly." The same dictionary defines "Hollow" as -"an unfilled space, deceivingly lacking in real value or significance." As those who claim to believe, or as Paul put it -"who name The Name", we either make the name of Jesus "Hallowed" or "Hollowed" depending upon what men observe in our conduct.

God's purpose in choosing a people to be His very own has always been - "to make a Name unto Himself". He makes it clear that since He Himself is holy, He intends to show Himself holy through His people becoming holy as He is holy in their conduct. Every true servant of God has always had this revelation engraved upon his or her heart. When Moses stood in the gap between the wrath of God and the people of Israel who He was about to destroy, Moses appealed directly to God's concern for His own name - "If You put them to death all at once, Your enemies will say You were not able to bring them in to the land." God was pleased with Moses' appeal and repented of the destruction He was ready to bring about.

God is still looking for men to stand in the gap before His face and show concern for the way His name is being blasphemed among non-believers by the conduct of those who bear His name. Holy men make intercession not out of human sympathy, the cry of their heart is "for Thy Name's sake." The great white throne judgment makes it clear that God's mercy towards men has a limit, but there will never be a time when God is unconcerned about His great Name. Believers, who only have a form of godliness without power seen in their conduct, are "hollow" professors, and their lack of the fruit of righteousness and godly character grieves the heart of God. This conduct is viewed as worse than a non-believer's, because it causes The name of Jesus and the faith in His name to be viewed as "hollow" religion.

True believers, who have received such a work of grace that they always live to bring honor and glory to the Name of Jesus through their conduct, cause the name of God and the faith in Jesus to be "hallowed"! There is a promise for those who live to bring honor to God's name. God made the promise through Malachi and indicated that this promise is for a very select group:

"Then those who feared The Lord spoke with each other and The Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared The Lord and HONORED HIS NAME. THEY WILL BE MINE, says The Lord Almighty, in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I WILL SPARE THEM, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not." God knows the difference between those who make His name "Hollow" and those who genuinely pray and live - "Hallowed be Thy Name"! They are the only ones who He will choose when He makes the distinction between the many who are called and the few who are chosen!

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SI Moderator - Greg Gordon