True Passion for Sanctifying God's Name

In today's reading, Burroughs presents what is perhaps a rather novel thought for many Christians today. His description of confronting the wicked when they come to holy communion seems a far cry from the inclusiveness and man-centeredness of much of American evangelicalism. I was much impressed by his reverent zeal for the sanctification of God's name.

Today we can have a tendency to be too individualistic, self-centered, and man-fearing. We typically avoid confrontation like the plague and concern ourselves solely with our own spirituality and religious experience. The problem with this attitude is that it lacks concern for both the spiritual state of others and the sanctification of God's name. There are more important things at stake than our comfort and individuality. Mankind's spiritual state before God and the hallowing of God's name are both more important than our looking clean, neat, and pretty in our spotless garments, unblemished by the often dirty business of administering caring rebuke and showing steadfast zeal for God's honor.

Christianity is not an easy religion. Christ calls us to deny ourselves and to take up our cross, following him. We are not to save our lives, but to lose them for Christ's sake. Both of these orders call for extraordinary commitment and power. And it is only through Christ working through us that we can ever have the requisite power to live this way.
May God give us such a desire for the sanctification of his name that we would be willing to do what is necessary for him to be honored in all things.