Concern For His Own Name

So I poured out my wrath on them because they had shed blood in the land and because they had defiled it with their idols. I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered through the countries; I judged them according to their conduct and their actions. And wherever they went among the nations they profaned my holy name, for it was said of them, ‘These are the Lord’s people, and yet they had to leave his land.’ I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone.

Ezekiel 36:18-21

God’s chosen people had made unholy the Holy Land.  They had left the promise of the Promised Land, which was God in their midst.  They did this by filling the land and their hearts with idols.  Because of their great disobedience, God sent them into exile, away from their homeland, dispersing them among the nations.

While they were in Israel, God was not being exalted.  When sent into exile, there, too, His Name was not being glorified or honored.  Verse 21 tells us that God has concern for His own Name.  His reputation and the glory that He deserves is important to Him!  This is not arrogance because God is worth all of that – and more!

So God brings back His people from exile with a plan that is for their good and His Glory.

‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God.

Ezekiel 36:24-28

Rightfully so, God is concerned for the Glory of His Name.  Concerned, not as in worried, but as in motivated to act!  He will move and work for His own Glory.  And as Revelation is describing to us these days, He will accomplish this ultimately and for all time.

I need to join God in this concern for His own Name.  I wear the Name of Christ, so I must live for His Glory.  What’s so fabulous is that this motivation to act will also be for my good.  There is prosperity when we remove all the idols from our lives and worship God alone.  There is life when God removes our hearts of stone and gives us hearts of flesh instead.  There is joy when the Spirit of God takes up residence in my person!

How can I live for Jesus more completely today?  How can I bring acclaim to the Name of the Lord?

Lord Jesus, You deserve all of the honor that I can generate!  Every moment should rightfully be lived in Your Presence and for Your Glory!  Thank You for Your Spirit and Your grace that makes this possible.  Give me more opportunities to speak for You.  You are great and awesome and worthy of praise!  I joyfully give you that this day.