Brother Paul
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Member # 7959
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It was on the Lord’s Day, and I rose early in the morning to study God’s word. Once again I had come to the Commandments in Exodus 20 and the Sun was streaming ever so brightly into my Kitchen window, where I like to sit, illuminating the pages of my open Bible. The Sun to warm the room, and the fellowship of the Son to warm my heart. An excellent combination to say the least. And it came to me in a flash, perhaps by the Spirit of God, to write something for our mutual edification. Perhaps after reading it, you all can add your own thoughts and we can explore this further.
Exodus 20:7 commands us to not take the name of the LORD our God in vain, and that the LORD will not hold the person guiltless who does this. This seems sometimes in this day to be so utterly misunderstood, that I wanted to share concerning this. Having the Law written in our hearts, we sometimes forget to also keep the Commandments in the forefront of our thoughts, but alas we must if we are to guard safely the reputation of the LORD from the judgements of the world. What the Lord has shown me is that this command doesn’t really have much to do with the way some moderns use the name as a form of cuss or to express their shock when an abrupt occurrence falls upon them (though this is equally as inappropriate and sometimes blasphemous). For example, an old bumper sticker from a few years back comes to mind which declares, “Excuse me sir, but the last name of my God is not Damn!”
But more so is it that this often misunderstood command is concerned with the representation and misrepresentation of the Lord’s reputation in the eyes of the world. It speaks to the intentional and sometimes non-intentional association of the name (Ha’Shem in Hebrew) with people or acts of ill repute that would in effect bring shame or disrespect to our Savior. Consider the case of when a particularly slick tel-evangelist con-man or woman like Jim Baker gets drawn away after Mammon and gets caught. This sadly hurts the cause of our Jesus and elicits shame and even contempt for the reputation and person of God and His Church. Or when a preacher or one entrusted with the care of the flock, like the pedophile priests, or the adulterous minister, finally becomes exposed for what they are (and rightly so), how that causes people to not trust their hearts to Christ, for it is Him and His reputation which takes the brunt of the blame.
The anti-Christian elements in our modern humanistic media, like roaring lions seeking whom they can devour, really eat this up. Now don’t get me wrong, the getting caught part is as it should be and those who help cover such things better beware, for God is not slow concerning His promise not to hold them guiltless as well, because the taking of the Lord’s name in vain was occuring regardless of whether or not they got caught, Amen? Therefore beloved, as members called together as a witness to a lost and dying world we need to remember daily to take this seriously. The world is scrupulously watching every word and deed we do because we name the name. We need desperately to always be transparent with our shortcomings especially to those with whom we are called to witness. Sometimes our humble integrity is the very force of the Spirit that draws them in. They do not get the false sense that we are perfect and they are not. After all God is all about grace and none of us are perfect. In fact, I do not know if you would agree, but in my experience, the closer I walk with my Holy God the more I realize how wonderful is His grace and love toward me, because I ponder how it is He could love me so, just as I am, and considering how vile and depraved I really was when an unsaved child of Belial, and how despite my faults He comforts me when I fail, and chastises me with love and mercy to raise me up. The more I sense His pure Holiness the more I know I cannot be save by His grace in me. I am made worthy only by the work of His Son and not by any works of my own (Titus 3:3-8). Truly we are only holy by grace and through the remission of sins provided “in Christ”! In the past when I was a new baby I grew first to be zealous. I wanted everyone to have what I had been given, but sometimes this left me a little “holier than thou” and it seemed as if Daddy always worked it out that over time my arrogance, or pride, or some other flaw would rear it’s ugly head and I would immediately lose my effectiveness. You see the Lord doesn’t always take the fall, He already did, and so when we get a little too puffed up or dogmatic on our theological soapbox, He gently but purposely kicks it out. We truly learn as much through our mistakes with God as with our victories. So if we misrepresent ourselves or use the name to manipulate or for personal power or gain, remember as His child that He will humble you (Praise be to God). When we exalt ourselves, He most assuredly humbles us, when we humble ourselves, He will as surely us exalt us. Misrepresenting Christ or doing those things or saying those things that our carnal nature calls us to can so powerfully hurt the cause of our Savior, and the price He paid to bring us all where we are now was so dear it’s heart wrenching.
Let us remember that this command mostly speaks to this issue of the reputation of the One who this name represents, and that it is a hallowed responsibility for all who go forth to preach, speak, or act in that name to properly represent what that name stands for, bringing it honor and not contempt. Let us go forth upholding the reputation of Christ’s good name, remembering as Colossians 3:17 tells us, that whatever we do in word or deed, we need to do it in the name of Jesus Christ to the glory of God the Father.
So Father, please help guide and direct each of us who you have called to minister to others, and protect us from the snares of those little foxes that can spoil the vine. Heal and correct us from all that hinders in whatever development you deem necessary, or would stand in the way of our performing those good works you foreordained for us to do. Help us in every area, when we walk among our families, among friends and neighbors, in our jobs, etc., to reflect the character and attitudes that will glorify you. Let us never forget that even when doing something so mundane as our taxes that we are called to represent your name. By Christ and through your Holy Spirit never let us bring shame or contempt upon the your reputation or upon the Church, or on your cause and purpose in our lives. I ask this in His authority, Amen!
Posts: 235 | From: Cambridge, MA | Registered: Dec 2009
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