7/10/11 Honoring the Name

Ten Commandment devotion: Third: You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who misuses His name.

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

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. (Colossians 3:17). 

(Group going to Peru from Lake Muray Presbyterian 7/8/11- In His Name- to provide a water filtration plant and to establish a partnership with a Peruvian church in Iquitos on the Amazon)

Thoughts: Our speech and our actions are to glorify God's name.  It is talking about taking extraordinary risks of faith- standing up for what we believe.  I think of those in our church (Ray, Phyllis, Greta, Bill, RB) who are now in Peru on a mission trip as ambassadors for the name of Christ.  But this is also talking about the everyday honoring Christ: encouraging instead of criticizing; enabling instead of crippling; It means doing our work for Christ- our washing, our cleaning, our gardening, our parenting, our learning, our living. 
I read once of an atheist in the 1920s saying that God did not exist, and he would prove it by cursing God right then, and he dared God to zap him with lightning.  When he cursed, and God did not, he thought he had thus proved the non-existence of God.  But God is more merciful than that man, or us.  He gives us more time, yet will hold us to account. The last part of this command is not to be forgotten- "The Lord will not hold him guiltless who misuses His name." 

Prayer: Help me, Lord to honor your name; to build others up.

7/9/11- The Power and Abuse of His Name

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

His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. (Acts 5:40)

¹³ Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” ¹⁴ Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. ¹⁵ One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” ¹⁶ Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. ¹⁷ When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 
(Acts 13:13-17)

(Seven Sons of Sceva)

Thoughts: There is power in the name of Jesus.  It is powerful enough for salvation (Acts 2:38).  We are to be baptized in his name (Acts 10:48). Signs and wonders were done in His name (Acts 4:30; 16:18). We are called to pray in his name (John 16:24; Eph. 5:20; Heb. 13:15).  At His name every knee will bow and tongue confess (Phil. 2:9,10).  To not use the name of Christ is to miss the gift given to us.  Calling on His name is calling on the person of Jesus. 
It is not, however, a magical charm.  The Seven Sons of Sceva used the name of Christ like an amulet to ward off evil.  But they did not combine the name with faith.  To use the name as a lucky charm, without believing in the person of Christ behind the name is spiritually unhealthy.  It is not unusual that one of God's great gifts is liable for abuse by human superstition. 

Prayer: Lord, give me grace to believe in your name, to be baptized into your name, and trust in your name, and call on your name.  Keep me from vain superstition, but always keep me close to you. 

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.