What's in a name?

But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say "Let God be exalted!" Ps. 70:4

We know so much. We gather information at a rate that is truly incomprehensible. Boundless sources of data with tools to dissect and analyze it in ways not even possible 15-20 years ago. Yet we miss the truth so easily, so often.

We can break apart the very fabric of the human experience, cure some diseases that were thought to be incurable, and communicate around the globe in nanoseconds, but we struggle to grasp the meaning of the simple, of the obvious, of the essential.

How many times have you heard the name of God? How many times have you spoken it? It is common, too common. Have we developed personal relationships with Jesus, and lost our reverance of the Father.

When I slow down and think about the use of the word "God" in my life, in my community, in my church I find myself quickly passing by the enormity of the name. I think this phenomenon is partly a function of the casual nature of our culture. We are not easily impressed. We do not sustain high, formal standards in our speech, actions nor ideals. Children are often on a first name basis with adults, sometimes even their parents. Persons in authority have so often let us down that even those holding the highest offices seem to be less than they once were. We know better, we would do it better. And we have slowly, but easily lessened the name of God.

When I consider that truth in my own life I feel ashamed. How can I claim to love, honor and glorify God when I don't have the reverance in my heart He deserves. The name of God should be thought of and spoken as GOD! This is GOD. Not "a" god, but GOD! This is GOD who created the heavens and the earth. This is GOD who created light. This is GOD who created mankind. This is GOD who established His covenant with His created people, and then in their moment of greatest peril sacrificed Himself in the form of His son so that He could be glorified through the forgiveness of sin and eternal life of His creation!

Ordinary? Commonplace? Irreverant?

How about...hushed...awed...humbled...joyfully submissive?