For His Name's Sake

"He restores my soul;

He guides me in the paths of righteousness, for His Name's sake."

(Psalm 23:3)

I have been slowly reading through the book of Joshua.  One thing I have learned in my study so far that has been monumental for me: When God chooses to use mankind to carry out His plan, the end result is always to bring others to look to Him as Lord.  

In Joshua chapter 3, God gives Joshua specific instruction to pass along to the priests who were appointed to carry the ark of the covenant across/through the Jordan River.  The LORD says to Joshua in Joshua 3:8:

"You shall, moreover, command the priests 

who are carrying the ark of the covenant, saying, 

'When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, 

you shall stand still in the Jordan.' "

Scripture goes on to tell us in Joshua 3:15 that the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of the harvest.  I think we need to understand that this task was no walk in the park.  God was calling His people to believe Him for great measures.  This was a dangerous task - Without God's power and provision this would have been an impossible feat.  But Israel had the power of God backing them and with Him, the task was possible:

"And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD 

stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan 

while all Israel crossed on dry ground, 

until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan."

(Joshua 3:17)

But the story is not complete yet.  Scripture goes on to say that the Lord spoke to Joshua telling him to choose twelve men from the people, one man from each tribe of Israel.  Each man was to collect one stone from the middle of the Jordan where the priests were standing and carry it back to their lodging place.  

"Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying,

'What do these stones mean to you?' then you shall say to them,

'Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before 

the ark of the covenant of the LORD; 

when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.' 

So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever."

(Joshua 4:6-7)

Joshua left the men of Israel with a charge to tell the next generation of the faithfulness of their God ...

"that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty,

so that you may fear the LORD your God forever."

(Joshua 4:24)

I think sometimes we get caught up in what God can do for us.  And once He does it, we close the book.   But God does not intend the story to be over there.  He has a reason for accomplishing His purposes in and through our lives.  And it certainly does not end with us!  

I felt Psalm 23:3 went hand-in-hand with this challenge: "He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness, for His Name's sake."

You know this verse. You've likely recited it a thousand times.  But have you stopped to think about this one part ... For His Name's sake?  What does this truly mean to us?  

The interesting thing is that these four short words - For His Name's sake - really should be the goal, the ambition, the desired grand finale of our entire lives as believers. 

Every single task God calls us to believe Him for ... Every single failure that God has turned into a victory ... Every single moment of unbelief turned into belief ... Every single sin He has redeemed us from ... Every single rag He has turned to riches ... Every single filth He has made clean ... Every single stain He has washed ... Every single promise He has fulfilled ... And every single impossibility He has made possible ... Are all opportunities to make His Name Great.  

And so I guess today, I am just reflective and mindful of the fact that He has indeed restored my soul.  Keenly aware that just as He led the Israelites, He desires to lead my life.  And that He has a purpose in doing so - A purpose in His leading.  A purpose that absolutely does not end with me.  In fact, it's not about me at all.  It's about making His Name Great.  

Lord, thank You for Your Word.  It is so humbling.  Remind us that when You choose to use us to carry out Your plan, the end result is always to bring others to know You as Lord.  

Allow our lives to be a reflection of Yours, to a lost world ...

For Your Name's sake.  And not our own.