We Bear His Name
"Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” (Daniel 9:19 NIV)
You've really got to admire Daniel's boldness. Here's a guy who's basically telling God what to do—and judging by the exclamation points in nearly every English translation of the original Hebrew text, he did it with no small amount of gusto.
Yet Daniel's "request" wasn't self-centered: it was God-centered. He didn't say, "Do this to make me look good!" He said, "Do this to make Yourself look good! Your city and Your people are representing You! It's Your name on our label!"
To "bear" God's name is to put who He is out there, to show it off. I think it's a little (keyword: "little") like wearing a shirt emblazoned with the name and logo of a favorite sports team; we're putting the name of that team out there and showing it off, and we want that team to back us up by showing its skill and superiority.
With full reverence and respect for who God is and who we are (and aren't), I believe we can follow Daniel's bold example and ask God to move in our lives in accordance with His name—which we bear—and for its sake.
Lord! We bear your name Yahweh-Shalom! Please use us as peace-makers!
Lord! We bear Your name Holy One! Please set us apart for Your use!
Lord! We bear Your name The One Who Lifts Up My Head! Please help us to lift others up today!
Lord! We bear Your name El Roi! Help us to truly see those You love as you see them!
Oh God, we bear Your name. Help me to make it known.
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I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to tell me what you really think. Years ago, I explained to my then-two-year-old that my appointment with a counselor was "sort of like going to a doctor who will help me be a better mommy." Without blinking, she replied, "You'd better go every day." All of which is just to say I've spent some time in the school of brutal honesty!