INTRODUCTION

The Lord’s thoughts are not man’s thoughts, and His ways are not man’s ways (Isaiah 55:8-9 [8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. [9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
See All...). If asked, man would likely suggest that God’s motive for what He does is His love for man. As good as that may sound, the scriptural reality is that God works for His own glory and for His own name’s sake. The scriptural evidence of this truth is undeniable (see 1 Samuel 12:22For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.
See All...; Psalm 23:3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
See All...; Psalm 25:11For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
See All...; Psalm 31:3For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
See All...; Psalm 79:9Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.
See All...; Psalm 106:8Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.
See All...; Psalm 109:21But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name's sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me.
See All...; Psalm 143:11Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.
See All...; Isaiah 48:9For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.
See All...; Jeremiah 14:7O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name's sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.
See All...; Ezekiel 20:9But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.
See All..., 14, 22, 44; Ezekiel 36:22Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
See All...). Moses understood this truth and used it to stay the hand of the Lord when He desired to kill the people of God (Numbers 14:13-16 [13] And Moses said unto the LORD, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;) [14] And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou LORD art among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night. [15] Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying, [16] Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness.
See All...).

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller children) When the children of Israel had Aaron make the golden calf to worship while Moses was on the mount receiving the Ten Commandments, God was angry and ready to destroy His people. Read what Moses said to stay God's hand (Exodus 32:7-14 [7] And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: [8] They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. [9] And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: [10] Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. [11] And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? [12] Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. [13] Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever. [14] And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.
  See All...).
• Why is it actually better for us that the Lord’s motive is more about Himself than about us? How willing is the Lord to mar the reputation of His name?
• How is the Lord’s name at stake in the working of your salvation? How is it at stake in His daily provision and working in your life?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to work in your heart for His name’s sake.
• Thank God for taking such a great interest in your life.

HYMN

The Solid Rock

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