Using His Name In Vain
Our actions speak louder than our words. We sin against Him in our thoughts, words and deeds. We can use His name in vain in any and all of those three things.
Revelation 4:11: Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Living as if He is not worthy of our trust and our obedience is using His name in vain. Living as if He did not create us and does not own us is using His name in vain. Putting ourselves or other things above Him in importance is using His name in vain. Trivializing God is using His name in vain.
Matthew 6:33: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
The following is an excerpt from Dr. Robert A. Cook*s book, Today With The King. You can subscribe to his daily devotional readings and listen to his 15-minute radio broadcast at the website by clicking on this link: www.walkwiththeking.org. or typing it into the address line on a computer.
Read Exodus 20:1 – 26.
Exodus 20:7: *Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.*
What does *taking the Lord*s name in vain* really mean? Ordinarily we think only of profanity, which the dictionary defines as *the act of violating or treating with irreverence or contempt something regarded as sacred.* Certainly this is included but much more is involved than we might realize. So let*s consider the third commandment in light of a more extended application.
What about words like *gee* or *gosh* or *darn* or *heck*? Most people agree that *gee* and *jeez* are short for Jesus, and *gosh* is slang for God. Does our Lord care about such usage? What about a testimony that is given ostensibly to praising the Lord but which has no real sincerity or conviction? And what about the hymns we sing without giving thought to what we are saying to God?
Can you remember what you really meant when you last sang, *All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give*? As a matter of fact, maybe we ought to consider the way we use God*s name as *fillers* in our prayers while forming the next sentence. You don*t need to get under bondage in this matter, but just once notice the number of times you use *Lord* and *Father* and other names for Deity simply in a repetitious, non-thinking way. It*s something to think about within the context of *using His name in vain.*
Small thought here. Careful, intelligent, and prayerful use of the names of God makes for better communication of the Word of Life. See the connection for yourself in Philippians 2:9-16. Verse 1 *Jesus Christ is Lord.* Verse 12 *Work out your salvation (which has been in-worked by the Holy Spirit) with fear and trembling.* Verse 13 *God worketh in you.* Verse 15 and 16 *Ye shine as lights in the world, holding forth the Word of Life.*
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