7/8/11 Cursing with God's Name

The Ten Commandments this Summer
The Third Command: You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

¹ “Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares.
If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city.
² Although they say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ still they are swearing falsely.”  (Jer. 5:2).

Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear-- not by heaven or by earth or by anything else.  All you need to say is a simple yes or no.  Otherwise you will be condemned. (James 5:12)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs so that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29)

Thoughts: Bad language is hard enough, but adding God's name to our bad swearing is hard to take.  Taking the holy and using it in a profane way is an evil thing.  Some do this carelessly, and should recognize the importance of speech.  When we call on God's name, it is like waking up a lion, and we should call on Him carefully.  Adding God's name to a curse does not impress others.  Saying something eloquently with simplicity helps us.  We should bridle our tongue, building others up instead of cursing and tearing others down. 

Prayer: Give me grace, O Lord, to use your name carefully and wisely.

7/7/11 Leviticus 19:11-12

Devotional on the Ten Commandments
Third Command: "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God."

¹¹ “‘Do not steal.  “‘Do not lie. “‘Do not deceive one another.
¹² “‘Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
(Lev. 19:11,12)

³³ “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ ³⁴ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; ³⁵ or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. ³⁶ And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. ³⁷ All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. (Matthew 5:33-34)

(President of the United States, Barak Obama solemnly swearing on the Bible to uphold the office of the president..."So help me God.")

Thoughts: Historically, the third commandment has been interpreted as making a promise or pledge in the name of God and keeping it- and not breaking it.  This includes making a promise with no intention of keeping it; or making a promise or oath in God's name and not keeping it because it was uncomfortable or inconvenient.  In America, this tradition shows itself in placing a hand on the Bible and swearing in court to "Tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth...so help me God." Bringing God's name into an oath is not to be done lightly, and adds God into the covenant as the blesser, enforcer and witness to the agreement.  There are three specifically religious pledges we make: 1) Marriage, 2) Baptism, 3) Communion (sacrament comes from the Latin Sacramentum which was an oath a soldier gave his general or emperor).  The idea of a sacred promise is here uplifted. In Matthew, Jesus degrades those in his day who would only keep a promise made in God's name.  God is really a part of any transaction (Barclay).  God's name is honored when we keep the promises made before Him and in His name. 

Prayer: Lord, give me grace to be a person of integrity and authenticity who keeps my promises as you keep the promises made to me in your holy Word. 

7/6/11- The Name of Jesus

^{A SUMMER SERIES ON THE TEN COMMANDMENTS- With emphasis on the New Testament
3rd Command- Thou shalt not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
21} She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.(Col. 3:17)

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

(Names of Jesus)

Thoughts: God gave Jesus the name above every name.  It is the name that is not to be misused.  It is the name that elicits worship and bowing down.  The name of Jesus ("The Lord saves") is an essential part of the Lord's name.  To know that the very essence of God is to help and save us is of ultimate importance so that we may trust in Him.  When we worship at the name of Jesus, it does not misuse God's name, but glorifies it.  The opposite of misusing the name of Christ is honoring His name in worship.  So Jesus teaches us to pray in His name- which brings worship and glory to God.  So whatever we do should be done in His name and to His glory. 

Prayer: I bow at your name, O Lord.  May I hold your name of salvation utmost in my heart. May I not doubt your help, but trust in you to help in the right time. 

7/5/11- Call On His Name

This Summer our devotion focuses on the Ten Commandments with New Testament crossreferences.

 ¹¹ “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. (Deuteronomy 5:11)

 “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name", (Mathew 6:9- first petition of the Lord's Prayer)

Thoughts: God tells Moses when Moses asks for God's name, "Tell them 'I Am' has sent you" (Ex. 3:14).  God is the One who defines the very basic verb "to be."  He is life.  He gives life. He strengthens life and gives meaning to life.  He offers us eternal life.  Jesus asks us to use His name in prayer.  Today the name of God is misused in cursing, but it is also misused in that it often goes unused.  To leave God's name and power out of our lives, conversation and prayer is definitely neglect if not misuse.  One of the great blessings of life is the ability to know He is there for us.  One of my favorite songs, written by Carole King and popularized by James Taylor is "You've Got a Friend."  The haunting line is "You just call out my name, and you know wherever I am I'll be there...You've got a friend."  One of God's gifts is that truly we can call out His name and He'll be there.  Do not forget to call on God.

Prayer:  Thank you for your name which is above every name.  At your name every knee will bow in heaven on earth and under the earth.  May I glorify your name by how I live, and how I call on you, O Lord.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen.

Heidelberg Catechism Q. 99. What is required in the third commandment?  A. That we must no profane or abuse the name of God by cursing, by perjury, or by unnecessary oaths. Nor are we to participate in such horrible sins by keeping quiet and thus giving silent consent.  In a word, we must not use the holy name of God except with fear and reverence so that he may be righly confessed and addressed by us, and be glorified in all our words and works. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm2EkEURRqg ("You've Got a Friend")

John Calvin Abridged: God wills that we hallow the majesty of His name, and do not treat His name with contempt.  There are three points: 1) all we think or say about God should show His excellence; 2) we should not for any reason abuse His Word of mysteries; 3) We should not defame His works. We should avoid all useless oaths. 

7/4/11- The Gift of Freedom

⁷ As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. (Matthew 10:7-8)

(Dedicating new home for Michael Blair- by LMPC; he lost his home to fire last year)

Thoughts: Where does freedom come from?  All that we have is a gift from God.  If God did not make everything, we would not have any freedom to use what God have given us.  We have time to use freely-- wasting it, or using it wisely.  Our abilities are gifts from God to use or abuse.  Anything we possess is a gift form God- for He made all that we see and do not see.  Freely we have received, therefore we are to give freely.  The disciples were given help by Jesus and was sent out to help others.  We are called to "pay it forward."  In America, we have been blessed in so many ways, with so many gifts.  Freedom is a part of those gifts, and we should use our freedom wisely.  The Law helps us use our freedom in good and kind ways.  It teaches us not to keep our gifts to ourselves, but to be generous. 

Prayer: Lord, you have freely given to us.  In gratitude to you, following your example, help me to give freely as well. 

7/3/11 Free to be Blessed

Freedom and the Law;  Free to be Blessed

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

(Statue of Freedom- Capitol Dome; Thomas Crawford 1857)

¹¹ Therefore, take care to follow the commands, decrees and laws I give you today.
¹² If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the LORD your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your ancestors. ¹³ He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land—your grain, new wine and olive oil—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you. ¹⁴ You will be blessed more than any other people; none of your men or women will be childless, nor will any of your livestock be without young. ¹⁵ The LORD will keep you free from every disease. He will not inflict on you the horrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but he will inflict them on all who hate you. (Deut. 7:11-15)

Thoughts: On this Sunday before Independence Day, it is important to remember where our unalienable rights come from: our Creator.  God offers His love to us in terms of a relationship- a covenant.  God seeks to show His love for us and to bear fruit through us.  He seeks to bless us through increasing our numbers, with providing for our needs, with safety in our dwelling, with good health.  The passage says He "will keep you free" from all diseases.  God creates us and seeks to free us from the curse that takes away our freedom to enjoy life the way it is meant to be. 

Prayer: Lord, may our country seek to follow you.

7/2/11- The Freedom of LIfe

¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. ¹³ The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

Thoughts; The thief only comes to get something from us.  But Jesus came to give us something- life- the abundant life.  Here Jesus says He is the shepherd who owns us- because He made us and knows us.  Jesus is not just another philosopher who has no investment in the person learning the philosophy.  He is different from just another religious teacher who may teach thousands without knowing any.  Jesus knows us intimately, cares for us and seeks to help us.  Many have the idea that Jesus came to take our joy away by giving us commands that make us feel guilty.  But Jesus came to teach us how to live in order to have life to the fullest.  Christ frees us to be all that we can be by freeing us from sin. 

Prayer: Help me to trust in your guidance and in the joy you want to give me.