Honor His Name
Today's Scripture
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, irreverently, in false affirmations or in ways that impugn the character of God]; for the Lord will not hold guiltless nor leave unpunished the one who takes His name in vain [disregarding its reverence and its power]." - (Exodus 20:7 AMP)
Thoughts for Today
The first of the Ten Commandments states that we are to have no other gods. We are to worship only the one true God. The second commandment tells us to worship no idols, to worship God properly. This week we will look at the third commandment, which tells us not to misuse the name of the Lord our God. This commandment emphasizes right thinking about the name of the Lord. He commands and deserves the greatest respect for his name. It is a privilege for us to use his name, and we must always honor it.
Most of us understand this commandment prohibits profanity and blasphemy. However, it has broader application. We break this commandment anytime we take the Lord's reputation lightly. As we like others to speak our name correctly and with honor and respect, God, whose name is above any other, wants us to use his name with respect and honor. We misuse his name when we use it with profanity, hypocrisy, or irreverence.
Consider this . . .
God had given the Israelites the privilege of using his name. Although he is divine, he gave them the honor of using his name, which indicated his trust and love toward them.
With this privilege came the responsibility to guard the reputation of the Lord's name. This same privilege and responsibility is ours today—and we need to take this responsibility seriously. This week we will consider actions that dishonor God's name and look at some of the characteristics the Bible tells us belong to his name.
Prayer
Father, thank you for the privilege of using your name. I know that with the privilege comes responsibility. Help me never to misuse your name or use it carelessly. In the mighty name of Jesus . . .
These thoughts were drawn from …
The Ten Commandments: Applying the Foundations of Living to My Personal Life by Jimmy Ray Lee, D.Min. Knowing that there are absolutes that define moral conduct and ethical decisions is essential for believers surrounded by relativistic values. This guide helps us understand God's boundaries. It shows how the Ten Commandments apply today. It also discusses the biblical laws on which the legal codes of every civilized society are based. This guide is written in a way that helps people see the Ten Commandments in light of today's problems. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.
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