Honoring God's Name

No one likes for their name to be run through the mud. We want to keep our name clean since it represents our character and our reputation. So it is with the Lord as well. Is it possible that we, who are believers, are bringing shame on the Lord's Name? Today we are going to study the third word of the Ten Commandments: "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain." Exodus 20:7.

The verb "to take" means "to lift up" or "to carry." Therefore, each time we utter the name of the Lord we must not do so in a "vain" or useless and meaningless manner. If we are guilty of this sin the Lord will not hold us guiltless of this sin. It must be confessed, repented and asked for forgiveness.

I am going to share with you only five ways we may be guilty of this sin.

One way is in worship. In Matthew 15:7-9 the people draw near to the Lord with their lips only instead of with their hears. In Leviticus 10:1-3 the sons of Aaron did this and they lost their lives. The reasons God gave for killing these priests are,
" Among those who are near Me I will be sanctified and before all the people I will be glorified." We must ask ourselves, "What is in my heart and mind during the entire worship service?"

Another way is in our speech. In Matthew 5:33-37 Jesus warns about taking oaths and in Leviticus the warning is given about swearing falsely in the Lord's name. In making commitments before the Lord we must be very serious in what we are committing ourselves to do or to be.

Our accomplishments may also be another way of taking the Lord's name in vain. In Luke 6:46 Jesus asks the question, "Why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you?" Disobedience to the Lord is saying we do not respect Jesus as our Lord. So we address Him as "Lord" and it is useless since we do not take Him seriously.

In Romans 2:23-24 we learn that our hypocrisy opens the door for others to blaspheme the name of our Lord.

Using the Scripture to justify our sin is another way of abusing the Lord's name. Sometimes we say, "Well, in Ephesians 4:6 it says 'to be angry' so I have Biblical right to be angry"! The improper use of Scripture is a useless use of the Lord's name.

The obvious cause of this abuse of the Lord's name is sin in our lives which stems from two things. The first cause is recorded in Hosea 4:1-6 where the Lord says His problem with His people is their lack of knowledge of Himself. If we really know the Lord we would strive with all our might not to take His name in vain. The second cause of this sin is found in Matthew 6:9, "Hallowed be your name." Hallowed means to hold in reverence. We fail to honor the holy name of God which will come when we realize who He is.

We all need to search our hearts to see if we are guilty of taking the name of the LORD our God in vain. If we are we must immediately confess our sin, repent and ask for forgiveness. May we all strive to honor the holy name of our LORD.