Glorify the Name of Jesus

Over the last several weeks, we spoke of Paul praying that you would be worthy to be called Christian, that you would receive the righteous desires of your heart, and that God would complete the good work He began in you. The fourth thing Paul prayed for concerning the Thessalonian believers reveals the reason he prayed in this manner—why he prayed as he did. The ultimate purpose of his prayer was not for their sake, but that the name of the Lord Jesus would be glorified in them, and they in Him.

That is exactly what First Thessalonians 1:12a says: "That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him." Name "is a reference to the dignity, majesty, and power of the Lord's revealed character" (The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Vol. 11, [Zondervan Publishing House: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1978], 316). The phrase "the name of the Lord" reminds us of the same phrase used in the Old Testament where "the name of the Lord" refers directly to Yahweh, the proper name of God (The New International Dictionary of N.T. Theology, Vol. 2, [Zondervan Publishing House: Grand Rapids, Michigan,1967], 512-13). And so, this passage identifies Jesus as Yahweh of the Old Testament.

To glorify the name of the Lord Jesus, means to exalt Him and to honor all that He is. What is in view is both eternal glory with Christ and honoring Him in our lives now. First Samuel 2:30 introduces this principle: "The Lord declares… 'Those who honor Me I will honor.'" Also, in John 12:26, Jesus said, "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor." So, Paul's thought here is that those who bear the name of the Lord Jesus should honor His name in this life—by the way we live. Then, God will also honor you with the eternal glory of Christ in that Day when He returns to take you to spend eternity with Him. He will also honor you by His caring for you right now.

But note the little word "in" (v. 12a). A.T. Robertson calls this the "en ('in') of mystic indwelling" (Expositor's Bible Commentary, Vol. 11, 316). Jesus introduced this concept in John 15:4 when He said, "Abide in Me, and I in you." When putting that statement along side John 12:26, "Where I am, there My servant will be also," it is clear that Jesus is talking about being in union with us—living in and through us. Where we go, He goes; what we do, He does. That is the idea. He is in us and we are in Him. Therefore, honor Jesus. "Do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31).

The ability to glorify the Lord Jesus comes only by "the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thess. 1:12b). Everything in the Christian life comes by the unmerited favor of God—the grace of God. Apart from God's grace we cannot be saved. Apart from God's grace we cannot live as Christ lived and we cannot honor Him. It is by God's grace through faith that we are saved and it is by God's grace through faith that we are in Christ and He is in us and lives through us. Letting Christ live in and through us is how we honor Him with our lives.

As with Paul, praying for the right things is linked directly with holy living. The godly Puritan John Owen noted, "He who prays as he ought, will endeavor to live as he prays" (The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded, reprint, [Grand Rapids: Baker, 1977], 59). Remember, when you pray as you should, you will seek to live for Jesus. You are called to serve God and honor the name of Jesus. Amen.