January 17, 2019
Good morning lovelies. I know it has been some time since I have written anything inspirational. A few months ago, I posted about getting back to writing my posts. Well, God instructed me to sit still that it wasn’t time for me to pick back up yet. I was just to observe my newsfeed and others for a while. I have learned and I am continuously learning how to be obedient to God’s instruction. While at work I tend to meditate on God’s word. Sometimes I pray while working, but He always generally gives me the opportunity to go into deep thought about different things. Last night I began to think about the sovereignty of God and how I/we as a people treat His sovereignty. What He showed me last night made me stop working and go in the restroom and truly pray and ask for His forgiveness. Especially after He showed me that I was guilty as well as others for what I’m about to tell you.
You see, He began to talk to me about how casual we as His people have become when it comes to Him. How we use His name in vain and have become accustomed to doing so. It has become an everyday thing that has become part of the norm, not only for the unbeliever but for Christians also. Exodus 20:7 says, “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Unfortunately, too many of us have become very casual about this commandment. Vain” means useless, or empty. This verse, one of the Ten Commandments, tells us to not use God’s name in an empty or useless way. God is to be respected with excellence. This isn’t optional. But it has become just that-optional.
Too many Christians and others, in moments of excitement, dismay, frustration, sadness, etc., say, “Oh my God,” and it isn’t a prayer. Others, tend to be more “restrained,” by saying, “Oh my gosh,” which is effectively the same, just watered down a little bit. When we do this, we are saying God’s name without any real meaning to it — using it vainly. And honestly, this is not unusual. I hear Christians do this all of the time. Many are wonderful people who obviously love the Lord. Is it because we just don’t hear this called sin anymore? Are we so hardened to the use of His name due to the company we keep and the entertainment that we fill our minds with, that we just didn’t notice when we started doing it, too? Or notice how casually it’s done?
We are not to use His name lightly. If we study who God is, we understand a bit more why this is such a grave sin. God is holy, sovereign, unchangeable, omnipotent, omniscient, faithful, patient, and merciful. This is just a short list of the adjectives that could be used to describe God, the One who made a way for us to be reconciled back to Him through His son, Jesus Christ. If He is so awesome and so wonderful (and He is!), then we can understand why it is so important for us not to use His name in vain.
I am not writing this to point a finger or to make you feel guilty. Quite honestly, I have personally struggled with this issue just as others have. I’m glad God is so forgiving and merciful.©© He continues to give me chance after chance to get it right. You will still hear that come out of my mouth on occasion. Language is a hard thing to change. When we grow angry or are surprised, we tend to forget our speech in the heat of the moment.
My desire in writing, as always, is to make us think. We need to think about the words that come out of our mouths. If we are redeemed and saved by grace, then we should live our life with intentionality to please our heavenly Father. May we recognize that taking God’s name in vain in any form is offensive to the Him who saved us!
“Every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgement.” Matthew 12:36
Live life, give people hope and share your heart, wisdom, and resources. Never place a period where God says there should be a comma.
As always peace and blessings, be safe. Take advantage of your opportunities but never allow your opportunities to take advantage of you. Remember God loves you and so do I. ©krw 1.13.19
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