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Tip 5 “The Lord’s Name”
I hope you enjoyed last week and took several opportunities to honor your parents.
This week we’ll look at another “tip” God has given us for how to live life well.
“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 (ESV)
Simple.
This is not rocket science is it?
God has made living life well a very easy to understand process.
Don’t take the name of the Lord in vain.
THE OLD GUY LOOKING BACK
I can remember when I was growing up I seldom heard cursing, let alone taking the name of the Lord in vain.
It wasn’t done on TV.
It wasn’t done in the movies.
It wasn’t done in our music.
I grant you there were some individuals who had a propensity to use the Lord’s name in vain, but they usually were careful where they did it, and sometimes they even apologized for doing it.
WELCOME TO TODAY
Things are a little different today. Cursing seems to be a regular feature in our interactions and using the Lord’s name in vain is commonplace.
In fact, I’ve heard young children cussing up a storm in public places that rivaled the worst I heard in high school boys’ locker rooms and even in the Army.
Using the Lord’s name in vain is done on TV.
It’s done in most of our movies, even “family” movies.
It’s done in our music.
It’s done in our social media.
It’s done in our text messages.
Because I write screenplays, I have to view a number of movies to see what is being done in the industry. It’s sad to see the number of films in which companies are paying people lots of money to use the Lord’s name in vain in addition to just the “normal” foul mouthed swearing.
It’s particularly sad to see the number of children who are being paid to use the Lord’s name in vain.
Who is responsible for that? The parents? The production companies? The viewers?
REFORMING SOCIETY IS NOT YOUR GOAL THIS WEEK
But you’re not here to reform society.
You’re here to work on you.
Do you have a problem using the Lord’s name in vain? If you do, you must fix the problem.
“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain …”
Exodus 20:7 (ESV)
You must stop. You don’t have a choice if you want to live life well.
“… for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”
Exodus 20:7 (ESV)
If you don’t have a problem with this, that’s great! Use this week to focus on applying the other “tips” we have looked at in the past month.
Treat the Lord’s name with reverence.
Before I go I’d like to share a blessing with you from the Old Testament.
“May the Lord bless and protect you; may the Lord’s face radiate with joy because of you; may he be gracious to you, show you his favor, and give you his peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26 (The Living Bible)
Until next time … be the reason someone smiles today!
Tip 5 "The Lord's Name"