For the Sake of His Holy Name

Ezk. 36:22-28

"Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came.  And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God."

What a great illustration of a sovereign God! What He does He does for the sake of His name! Certainly, Israel were and still are His chosen people, as I am His chosen child, but His actions toward them and me are motivated by His sovereign will and plan. Israel profaned His name and was filthy with idolatry, yet God did and will continue to draw them together so that He might cleanse them, give them a new heart, and put His Spirit within them. It was not because they did in any way deserve it, but it was for the sake of His name. The same goes for me. I, in no way, deserve to be chosen His child, yet He did choose me. It was for the sake of His name, the holiness of His name. As with Israel so it is with me. The only way to vindicate the holiness of His great name is to put within us a new heart. We must be supernaturally changed to be His people and for Him to be our God.

Father,
My heart is full of praise as I contemplate the holiness of Your great name, and that because of it, You chose me and saved me!
In Jesus holy name,
Amen