The Holiness of God

I have begun reading R.C. Sproul's "The Holiness of God" and today I want to share a quote from the first chapter.  Thus far, Sproul is discussing our view of God and his own "conversion" to the real form of God the Father.  In this passage he is talking about the church's top priority.  He says that it is not evangelism, or spiritual nurture, or social action.  Instead, the top priority is to know the true identity and character of God.  He writes:

  "What is the first petition of the Lord's Prayer?  Jesus said, "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven...'" (Matt.6:9).  The first line of the prayer is not a petition.  It is a form of personal address.  The prayer continues: "hallowed by your name, your kingdom come" (Matt. 6:9-10).  We often confuse the words "hallowed be your name" with part of the address, as if the words were "hallowed is your name."  In that case the words would merely be an ascription of praise to God.  But that is not how Jesus said it.  He uttered it as a petition, as the first petition.  We should be praying that God's name be hallowed, that God be regarded as holy.
  There is a kind of sequence within the prayer.  God's kingdom will never come where His name is not considered holy.  His will is not done on earth as it is in heaven if His name is desecrated here.  In heaven the name of God is holy.  It is breathed by angels in a sacred hush.  Heaven is a place where reverence for God is total.  It is foolish to look for the kingdom anywhere God is not revered."

I encourage you to pick up a copy of this book soon.  It's a good read and challenges you to reconsider your regard for God.