God's Reputation?

Does God care about His Name? Of course He does.  One of the 10 commandments says, "Don't take the Lord's name in vain."  In other words, don't ascribe to God, or to attach something to God that doesn't honor Him.  Gods reputation is on the line when it comes to His promises made to Israel.  Those promises are as a solid on God's part as the day those promises were made. Time and the unfaithfulness of people do not destroy or invalidate God's promises.  God gave His word, and His Word is even more important (or higher) than His Name. (Psalm 138:2)  That's the beauty of God's Faithfulness, He keeps His end of the bargain regardless of how His people behave. This is the assurance we all have when we trust in the promises God made to us in His Word.  Here is an illustration from Psalm 106:8

8Yet he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make known his mighty power. The Psalmist was making a reference to God's provision at the Red Sea by saving Israel and killing all of the Egyptian solders. He did so not because Israel was so righteous, but He was protecting His Name by exhibiting His power over the circumstances. God continues to be faithful to us because of the promises made in Christ Jesus. This means that our unfaithfulness doesn't remove the blessings of Christ.  However, it might mean that we may be disciplined by Christ, but our privileges received by faith aren't removed the first time we find ourselves slipping into sin. This is not an excuse to sin, but it is an argument for God's faithfulness to His Word. Paul the Apostle writes in Romans, "where sin abounds, grace abounds more."  God is protecting His promises by grace, because law would require a nullification of the promise once there was a violation of the promise. However, His grace protects His Name, and no matter how prolific the violation becomes, there will be abundant grace to cover it in Christ Jesus.  This is why Israel is such an important study today.  Even though they do not believe in the Messiah Jesus, many Jews have not entered into covenant with Him, yet God is still faithful to bless Israel.  It's to the Jew first and then the Gentile, as Romans 1:16 proclaims, all because God is faithful to the promises made to Israel's forefathers. It is in these promises that Israel will stand against all odds in todays world, and be made into a country that will support the returning King of the Jews. One of my Messianic friends says, "if God isn't faithful to His promises to Israel, how can we be assured He will be faithful to the promises to the Church?"  God has a reputation to protect through the promises He had made, because His Name is at stake.  Jesus made a promise that He would return, and that promise is supported by His reputation.  It might be today, are you ready?  Watch this link from Franklin Graham  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhNEWvphuJE Keeping it honest and truthful.....K