Handle With Care
Today’s Verse:
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. ~Exodus 20:7
Your name represents who you are. Solomon said, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.” A bad character reflects badly on a name. When God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, He gave him absolute requirements that are necessary for a society to be civil, orderly, and God-fearing. When the Israelites left Egypt, it is likely that there were some people who cursed and swore in the name of the Lord. There was a triteness and irreverence that the people had towards God and His holiness. Let us remember the importance of name of the Lord.
We see the praise.
“From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised.” The first thing we must do is praise the name of the Lord. From sunup to sundown, God’s name is to be praised. The names of God in the Bible reveal to us His many attributes. Praising the name of the Lord is a necessity of our worship. God is honored when we praise Him for being the Most High God, our shield and exceeding great reward, Lord God Almighty, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, and holy. Praising the name of the Lord is a necessity for a good spirit.
We see the precept.
The third commandment instructs us to not take the name of the Lord in vain. It should grieve us when ungodly people use the Lord’s name in cursing or in a blasphemous manner. In Judges 17, the mother of man named Micah cursed. Shimei cursed David. Peter cursed and swore that he was not associated with Jesus. It is grievous that men, women, little children, teenagers, young adults, older adults, and people on their deathbeds curse and swear. No one is without excuse for taking the name of the Lord in vain. Even among God-fearing believers, caution must be exercised that God’s name is handled with reverence and care.
We see the price.
“...For the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” There is a heavy penalty for breaking this commandment. I believe that God marks every person who takes His name in vain. Esau is one of those who has been marked. Paul refers to Esau in Hebrews 12 as a profane man. The man identified during the Great Tribulation as the Beast is another man who is marked for his cursing and swearing. There are many sinners who will be held guilty of cursing and blasphemy when the books are opened at the Great White Throne Judgment. There are Christians who have allowed cursing to become a habitual sin in their life who are living in fruitlessness and powerlessness. Taking the name of the Lord in vain carries a heavy price.
We see the practice.
There are three practices that are critically important about the name of the Lord. First, every unsaved sinner must believe in and call on the name of the Lord to be saved. "There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Second, we must pray in Jesus' name. Praying in Jesus' name gives us power and is the only acceptable way to access divine answers to prayer. Third, we must lift Jesus' name through preaching and witnessing. Christ-centered preaching is about His deity, His death, His resurrection, and His coming again.
We have power through the name of Jesus. Guard His name carefully. Glorify His name lavishly.
Have a sanctified God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Ezekiel 13-15