Re:Verse passage – Exodus 20:7 (day two)
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.
Words matter. Choosing the way to ask for something can move from a simple plea to a dogmatic demand with a turn of a phrase. I often lament that we don’t exercise our linguistic muscles as a society anymore, and therefore lose the ability to accurately communicate our intent. When we reduce our language to sound-bite worthy statements we lose something of what it means to express ourselves in a meaningful way. How we talk about God and communicate His love and plan is mission critical for all believers, but we are not to wield His name or authority like a blunt instrument. God does not speak idly, and nor should we. Let’s think about praying before speaking on God’s behalf. We may find it better to say nothing at all.
Good reminder not to misuse and abuse God’s name! We should avoid using His name in a useless and disrespectful way but use His name in a serious and considerable way to show respect for God. We should not use God’s name for no reasons (in vain) other than to glorify Him.
Words reveal our substance, of who we are. They testify either of our devotion to God or of a spiritual problem. How we use His name matters to God! Many people today use His name carelessly and have no respect for who He is!
We just have to watch what comes out of our mouths to ensure that our words are constructive, not destructive and will please God. Our words can lift up, build up, destroy or tear down others. The power of words cannot be underestimated!