Good morning,
This week’s devotions will challenge us to walk closer to the Lord Jesus.
They come from the Grace Gems website, pilgrim@gracegems.org.
You shall not take the name of
the Lord your God in vain!
(William
S. Plumer, “The Ten Commandments”)
A great design of true religion is to bring men to habitual reverence
for God’s divine majesty. The very moment men cease to treat God as
holy–that moment their hearts and lives become polluted.
“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
Anything relating to the true God–His being, His nature, His will, His works,
His worship, His service, or His doctrine–pertains to God’s name. This
commandment extends to the state of men’s thoughts and hearts–as well as to
their speech.
To take God’s name in vain, is to use it in any frivolous, false,
inconsiderate, irreverent, or otherwise wicked manner. The scope of this
commandment is to secure the holy and reverent use of all that by which God
makes Himself known to His people; and so to guard His sacred name against all
that is calculated to make it contemptible.
The manner of taking His name is to be grave, solemn, intelligent, thoughtful,
sincere, and with godly fear.
“Our Father in Heaven, may Your name be honored
as holy.” Matthew 6:9
~ ~ ~ ~
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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