Third Commandment – No use of GOD’s Name in Vain

Third Commandment – No use of GOD’s Name in Vain

Exodus 20: ⁷ “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.

 

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Exactly 430 years, the children of Israel were in Egypt. The same day they entered Egypt was the same day they left. During that time a deep mindset had guided the children of Israel into limiting beliefs. One belief the children of Israel adopted was GOD is as common as humans, so HIS name, or promises, were as powerless and useless as the next human.

 

My Observations:

• GOD’s name is Yahweh meaning I AM WHO I AM (all caps).
• GOD was telling the Israelites not to take HIS position, prophecies or power lightly.
• GOD was addressing a mindset that HE was like humans.

 

For hundreds of years, the children of Israel were told that Pharaoh was a god and they had to do what he said. We do the same when we want to gain power or wealth. We make a human a god by talking about them, planning for or against them and speaking their name more than GOD’s name.

 

GOD’s name was supposed to be tied to power, knowledge, presence and love. To undermine HIS name, or take it lightly, meant that anything goes when it came to following HIS commands. A person could say, “GOD told me,” when the voice was their own selfish desire. This is taking GOD’s name lightly.

 

Other obvious examples include swearing, manipulating or instigating when GOD did not say to use HIS name. To paraphrase, “Do not use MY name for your own selfish desires or to get your way or to curse people in a joking way.” Using GOD ‘s name to manipulate people or to get a sinful wish granted makes GOD remember when and why the person did so.

 

One check to see if GOD’s name is used correctly is the fruit that comes from the use of HIS name. When love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness or self-control appear from the use of the name, then it was used properly. When confusion sets in from “believers,” and not those who dislike GOD, then check to see if GOD’s name was misused.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about what HE spoke to the children of Israel about using HIS name in vain?
• Have you ever wanted to feel special so you name dropped GOD’s name to feel important versus making HIM important?
• When you use GOD’s name at the end of a prayer, are you sure you are aligned with HIS desires?

Three O’s

Three O’s

Revelation 4: Surrounding the throne on each of its sides, were four living creatures covered with eyes in front and behind. ⁷ The first one looked like a lion; the second looked like a bull; the third had a face like a human face; and the fourth looked like an eagle in flight. ⁸ Each one of the four living creatures had six wings, and they were covered with eyes, inside and out. Day and night they never stop singing:

 

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
    who was, who is, and who is to come.”

 

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Hearing the ice cream truck raised my desire for the delicious cool treat. But I had a problem. I had no money!. I went into my parents room, opened up their makeshift coin bank and grabbed enough to purchase my treat. “Where did you get the money for the treat?” my parents asked. “I don’t know” was my go to lie. “How did they know I was lying?” I asked myself.

 

• My parents were not all seeing, but they could deduce when I was lying.
• My parents were not all knowing, but they knew enough to try to keep me on the right path.
• My parents were not everywhere, but they seemed to be at the right place at the right time to keep me out of trouble.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, was shown four beings that he could barely describe. His gruesome description was probably beautiful in person. These beings sang a song “day and night” about GOD’s holiness. They may represent GOD’s omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence.

 

My Observations:

• GOD is all powerful and can handle any opposition I can face.
• GOD is all seeing, so HE knows when I am sincerely serving HIM.
• GOD is everywhere, so I do not have to fear when HE sends me someplace to represent HIM.

 

Omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence are human words we give to GOD because we cannot quite explain HIM. I mean, HE always was, HE is and will always be. Our minds cannot understand this being. And what we do not understand we sometimes blow off or mislabel it.

 

GOD knows my every thought, action and desire. HE knows the bad things and erases them with HIS grace and knows the good things and rewards me generously for them. Night will go away, but until it does, the four creatures will remind us of GOD’s power.

 

Challenge

• Were you creeped out by the description the writer gives of the four creatures?
• What is your view of GOD?
• Will you remove any limits you have of GOD and place your hope in HIM to experience HIS love today?

Misread Ticket

Luke 14: ⁷ So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: ⁸ “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; ⁹ and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. ¹⁰ But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. ¹¹ For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

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“Would you like something to drink” the flight attendant asked me. I was shocked because not only were we still on the ground, passengers were still boarding. “Sure” I replied thinking to myself, “First class is wonderful!”

This elation was followed by “Excuse me. You are in my seat.” I misread the ticket and was in the row just behind first class. Everyone on the plane seemed to watch me move.

• There were times when I wanted the best places.
• There were times when I felt I “deserved” fist class treatment.
• Three were times when I got upset at “those” people who did not know how to travel right.

JESUS spoke in a parable about choosing the lowest seat first otherwise the person may get embarrassed when told to move. HE wasn’t just speaking about chairs, HE was speaking to the church leaders who loved their titles, numbers of people in their congregation and most of all the amounts of money to be had. These leaders had overlooked the ONE who deserved the best.

• GOD wants me to seek true humility that resonates from HIM.
• GOD wants me to need JESUS to be first instead of “me” getting the credit.
• GOD wants me to accept being a servant seeking to bring people to HIM.

Having a title is not the problem, its needing the title that caused blindness, When I seek to be more and more, then GOD may say, “That seat is reserved for someone else” and tell me to sit somewhere outside of HIS kingdom.

GOD wants me to recognize HIS power and accept HIM as being GOD. HE is supreme and JESUS has the rightful seat above everyone. I seek to be less so HE can make me more. HE is my savior.

• Do you feel you deserve more?
• What are you seeking in your heart?
• Can you place GOD above all things and allow HIM to guide you to the place you need to be?

Glory

Ezekiel 10: ⁴ Then the glory of the Lord rose from above the cherubim and moved to the threshold of the temple. The cloud filled the temple, and the court was full of the radiance of the glory of the Lord.

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Yesterday as I was driving down the highway I noticed the setting sun. This time the sky looked particularly strange as some of the clouds seemed to cast a glow as if they were on fire. I could not see the sun itself because of obstacles like trees and buildings, then I rounded a corner and there it was, bright, glowing and radiant!

• The setting sun is no match for GOD’s glory.
• An erupting volcano is no match to GOD’s power.
• A violent wind is no match to GOD’s infinite presence.

GOD should be pondered on a regular basis. Through rough storms and quiet streams, GOD should appear in my mind as the creator with infinite wisdom. HIS concern over me is included in this incredible artwork called life. HE opens my eyes to a new day and calls out to me to see HIM, hear HIM and be with HIM.

GOD is almighty, GOD is all knowing. GOD is all seeing. GOD is.

• Can you see GOD?
• Have you heard HIM today?
• Will you ask HIM to speak to you today?
• Will you let HIM show you HIS glory?

Filled with Wonder

Isaiah 4: ² In that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. ³ Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem. ⁴ The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire. ⁵ Then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory will be a canopy. ⁶ It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.

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As I looked at this passage this morning I noticed that I was left out. I’m not saying that I’m not included in the promises. I am saying I don’t have anything to do but sit here and watch.

• The LORD will be beautiful and glorious.
• The LORD will wash away the filth, HE will cleanse bloodstains.
• The LORD will create.

Sometimes I think GOD is just sitting around doing nothing but watching HIS experiment to see if I will make it out of the maze of life. As I sin, it equates to running into a wall and if I get lost it is similar to going into a dead end section of the maze. BUT GOD wants me to take off my blinders.

• GOD wants me to see only HIS glory so I won’t use my own.
• GOD wants me to see only HIS power so I won’t think I need any of mine.
• GOD wants me to see only HIS promises so I won’t get caught up pouting over what I don’t have.

Looking at GOD does not always mean looking at the answer guy who just sits and waits to fix my problems. HE is the way, the truth and the life. GOD is active in my life on a daily basis. Minute by minute HE is there. Sometimes I just need to see only HIM and nothing else.

• Can you look at GOD today?
• Will you seek only HIS face and try to please HIM?
• Will you ask HIM to show HIS might today?

Who can Understand?

Job 26: ¹⁴ And these are but the outer fringe of his works;
    how faint the whisper we hear of him!
    Who then can understand the thunder of his power?”

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GOD is the most high and I am made for HIM. HE created the universe and placed it in the palm of HIS hands. But sometimes I don’t think HE can rescue me from the clutches of my situation. If HE doesn’t do “my” plan exactly to the letter then HE must be punishing me or has run off doing some ultra powerful thing and has forgotten me.

• GOD says to me “MY eye is on the sparrow, how much more will I take care of you?”
• GOD says to me “I know the number of hair on your head so I am concerned with every aspect of your life.”
• GOD says to me “I AM the one who leads you besides still waters to bring you peace.”

Every footstep, every heartbeat, every breath, GOD is concerned about. HE looks at me when I sleep and has already thought ahead “What great things can I bring to life today?” Even the things I see as disastrous, GOD has a great and marvelous plan for me.

• Are you excited about GOD’s plan for you today?
• Can you feel the excitement GOD has for you?
• Will you offer praise to HIM today for thinking so highly of you?

Limits on the Unlimited

Job 11: ¹³ “To God belong wisdom and power;
    counsel and understanding are his.
¹⁴ What he tears down cannot be rebuilt;
    those he imprisons cannot be released.
¹⁵ If he holds back the waters, there is drought;
    if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.
¹⁶ To him belong strength and insight;
    both deceived and deceiver are his.

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Job was in a “woe is me” state and rightfully so.  I have gone through this many times in my life, but looking back I wasn’t really going through much.

• When I think the world is falling down around me, it truly is.
• When I think everyone is against me, they really are.
• When I think I can’t do something, I really can’t do it.

Limits are what holds me back. When I see something huge as a barrier in my mind, then suddenly I put limits on GOD. I say what HE can and can’t do then I rationalize my sinful state into the equation. I say “Maybe I’m too sinful to reach my goal” which is a statement saying GOD’s grace isn’t sufficient enough.

• GOD wants me to believe HE has limitless power.
• GOD wants me to believe HE has limitless resources.
• GOD wants me to believe HE has limitless knowledge.

When I get into a down state like Job, I have to think differently. I have to look at what GOD can do versus what my deceitful eyes can see. GOD wants me to believe HE has no limitations and HE can do the impossible.

• Are you feeling down?
• Do you think you are on your last leg?
• Can you stop thinking GOD is so small that HE won’t help you?
• Will you start believing in HIM and let HIM do HIS thing?

A Place of Worship

1 Chronicles 2: ⁵ “The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods. ⁶ But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him? Who then am I to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him?

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Three forty five in the morning, I finally closed my eyes.  I heard noisy clumps of feet in the kitchen then I heard a knock on my door. My mother was telling me to get up for church. “I don’t feel like going right now” I responded. “If you can stay out all night, you can get up for church” was her response.

“Why do I have to go to church anyway?” I grumbled.

• There have been times where I tried to leave GOD in the church building so I could do what I wanted to do.
• There have been times where I didn’t want to go to the building where GOD lived because I couldn’t do what I wanted to do.
• There have been times where I would leave the building where I thought GOD lived only to get back to doing what I wanted to do.

There was one flaw with my thinking. GOD is everywhere! I mean I had not only squeezed GOD into the tiny building we called a church, but there were even rooms where HE couldn’t possibly be in. I mean GOD couldn’t be in the bathrooms, only in the sanctuary and classrooms was my flawed thinking.

• GOD is everywhere and church buildings are a gathering place for flawed people.
• GOD is all seeing so every place I think HE is not, HE is.
• GOD is all knowing so HE is even in my thoughts and desires even when they are not following HIS ways.

GOD cannot be contained or left at a building. When I go to “church” I am not going to see GOD, rather I am going to see a group of sinners rescued by GOD. I am there to hear how GOD transforms lives and tell people how HE has done the same in my life.

During the week I can meet with others to pray and talk. This is also “church.” And when I’m by myself I can bow my knees and praise GOD as an act of worship. GOD cannot be contained.

• Do you think the “church” building is more sacred than your house?
• Do you believe there is a place on earth more sacred than another?
• Can you stop trying to contain GOD within certain things and see HIM everywhere?
• Do you believe HE owns everything?
• Won’t you stop crying for more and seek open eyes to HIM? 

Asking Shapes Me

2 Chronicles 1: ⁷ That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

⁸ Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. ⁹ Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. ¹⁰ Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

¹¹ God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, ¹² therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”

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GOD knows everything right? Then why does HE ask Solomon to “ask” HIM for something? I mean HE knows what Solomon will ask so why doesn’t HE just give it to him and be done with it? In fact, why doesn’t HE just give me my cushy life with plants that never die in a warm tropical bug-free place with people surrounding me who are praising GOD day and night?

• GOD has given me free will to choose HIM.
• GOD somehow allows me to actually pick my direction.
• GOD enables me to make choices and HE has rewards and consequences attached to them.

GOD doesn’t always just step in and steer things in my life. HE lets me choose my path. Unfortunately if sin and fear get in the way, I won’t choose HIM. That’s why HE had to die for me because I would never choose HIM. When GOD takes me to a very scary place my choices are critical. Choose HIM with faith, trust and obedience or cower away with fear, doubt and disobedience.

• GOD wants me to choose HIS way which shapes me to obey HIM.
• GOD wants me to ask for the items that please HIM which grows my faith in HIM.
• GOD wants me to believe HE has a wonderful plan for me which strengthens my trust in HIM.

Asking actually is like exercise. The more I ask for the things GOD wants me to ask for, the stronger my faith becomes. The reason I will be able to believe larger things will come to fruition is because I would have seen GOD deliver me from the multitude of smaller things.

• Are you ready to grow your faith?
• Can you begin asking GOD for smaller things and watch HIM deliver you?
• Will you begin to put your trust in HIM today?

There is no other GOD

Deuteronomy 4: ³⁹ The Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. Today you must agree with that and take it to heart. There is no other God.

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Standing on a porch in a hand-me-down snorkel coat, a gust of wind blew and I went sailing. Laughter came from everyone because my frail frame wasn’t enough to hold me down. Since I was so frail I developed fears, especially of bullies, I avoided them at all costs.

When I grew high in a company I complained because I had to pay “alternative minimum tax.” I feared fluctuations in the market so I kept a close watch on where I put “my” funds. Then I met my worst fear, a bully at work who threatened my financial security! What was I going to do?

• Sometimes my fear of people comes from me viewing them with too much power.
• Sometimes my fear of losing money comes from me putting it too high on the priority.
• Sometimes my fear of failure comes from looking at my frail being and thinking I don’t have the power to accomplish huge things.

It was only GOD who could take me to the places I’ve been.  I never would have imagined meeting people I’ve met or doing the things I have done. My fear of the unknown blinds me to the point where I cannot see GOD’s great power.

• The LORD is GOD in heaven above and on the earth below.
• The LORD is GOD all by HIMSELF.
• The LORD is GOD and there is no other GOD.

GOD has ALL of the power, I have none. My frail thinking is only limited by how much I trust in what HE can do. If I believe HE can perform a miracle, then HE will bless me with miracles happening in front of my face. HE performs them anyway, but my blindness causes me to miss HIS great power.

GOD is mighty. GOD is powerful. GOD is everywhere. GOD is.

• Do you doubt GOD’s power?
• Do you think HE can’t handle your situation?
• Can you increase your trust in HIM to do what HE want with the situation?
• Won’t you let HIM bless you the way HE wants you to be blessed and throw away your false expectations of HIM?

Every prayer is heard

Revelation 8: ³ Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God’s people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne. 

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After reading this passage of scripture, it makes me want to change my prayers.  I mean some of my conversations with GOD are full of complaints of how things are not going the way “I” want them to. I wonder if I need to change my perspective on prayer.

• GOD is sovereign which means HE has the highest authority over me and my wishes.
• GOD is all knowing which means HE knows when I am requesting something harmful that I think is innocent.
• GOD is everywhere which means HE knows about the person who wants to harm me as well as those who will provide relief.
• GOD is all powerful which means HE is far more than a wish granter rather HE is a “will” maker.
• GOD is all seeing which means HE sees right through my plans.

My prayers need to praise GOD while petitioning HIM to change the situation. JESUS showed many times that HE was moved by the difficult circumstances humans face. Somehow my prayer translates to faith in the one who can do something about the situation. My prayers should not be wasted on complaints rather they should point to GOD’s majesty.

• How do you speak to GOD?
• Are you treating HIM as a common human or as GOD?
• Can you praise GOD in the middle of your circumstance?

I’d rather be foolish

1 Corinthians 1: ¹⁸ For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written:

   “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;

   the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

 ²⁰ Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

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Technology is a difficult field to field to preach the gospel to.  I mean exact sciences look for answers in exact locations and GOD just hasn’t been in the places scientists look. I started to question GOD’s existence. I mean why the invisibility? Why the silence? Why the lack of aroma or taste? And most of all why hasn’t HE touched me?

• GOD is visible in all of creation so if I open my eyes I could see HIM every day.
• GOD speaks to me daily through HIS Bible, people and circumstances so if I open my ears I could hear HIM.
• GOD spreads the smell of sacrifice throughout the earth so if I would take a whiff I could smell danger to dodge, fear to fight and success that saves.
• GOD gives HIS message freely so if I would speak about HIS SON I could taste the sweetness of HIS love.
• GOD reaches out to me daily so if I would reach out and hug that person who is in despair, give to someone in need or pick up the person who has fallen I would feel HIM.

My five senses have been cursed to deteriorate. My spiritual senses need to grow in order to relate to GOD in the way HE wants me to.  My senses will play tricks on me causing me to lose faith, BUT GOD wants me to simply believe without seeing. HE wants my faith to be based on more than faulty senses. HE wants me to believe in HIM alone.

• Are you trying to rationalize GOD out of your life?
• Are you trying to figure GOD out so you can manipulate HIM?
• Won’t you open your eyes and ears to GOD today and watch HIM do HIS wonders?
• Can’t you believe GOD is everywhere, knows everything, and is all powerful?

How cool is GOD?

Romans 11: ³³ Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

   How unsearchable his judgments,

   and his paths beyond tracing out!

³⁴ “Who has known the mind of the Lord?

   Or who has been his counselor?”

³⁵ “Who has ever given to God,

   that God should repay them?”

³⁶ For from him and through him and for him are all things.

   To him be the glory forever! Amen.

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Where did all this stuff come from? I mean the Earth, humans, planets, stars and that blade of grass over there. Most times I just walk past all the stuff around me not even noticing its splendor or how it got there or why it’s there. I drive past people, hills, streams and animals trying to listen to voice mail or making that phone call.  Am I not listening to GOD?

• I miss out on seeing GOD when I can’t even notice HIS creation.
• I miss out on seeing GOD when I focus on my worries.
• I miss out on seeing GOD when I get distracted about a circumstance or situation.

Just stopping and pondering GOD is quite an amazing thing. I don’t want to sound all fluffy but trying to conceive HIM is quite fantastic.  HE has always been around, made everything just by speaking it into existence and knew all about it before HE made it.

• GOD is all knowing.
• GOD is everywhere.
• GOD is the owner of all I have.
• GOD is.

Once I realize that all I have including my phone, or computer or socks and my cup of coffee, are HIS, I can release any dreadful thoughts over what happens to them.  HE can do with my body and stuff as HE sees fit.  The great thing about allowing GOD to “own me” instead of me fighting to do things my way is “I can’t lose because GOD always wins!”

• Have you pondered GOD’s power today?
• Will you take a moment to notice GOD’s creation today?
• Won’t you take time to think about what HE has done in your life?