Tues.’s Devo - In Vain

Read Ex. 20:7 I think this is the most misunderstood commandment. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. We have been taught that it is not to cuss using God’s name but it is much deeper than that. In the Old Testament they were afraid they would misuse God’s name and be held guilty so they wouldn’t say his name or write it. God gave them many names to call him: Jehovah Jireh, El Shaddai, etc. which all had meanings that had to do with God’s character and what he was doing for them at the time. In the New Testament, God sent Jesus and gave us a name above all names. In this name we were to be saved, cast out demons, be healed, speak with new tongues, prophecy, do wonders, work miracles, aid the poor, gather together, go to the nations, baptize, ask anything, take up serpents, drink poison, and reach out to the sinner. If we take this name, Jesus, that has power to save and set free and we don’t live all these things above, then we have taken the Lord’s name “in vain”. God gave us this name so we would use it to bring life and healing. To withhold our testimony is to take the Lord’s name in vain. If demons tremble at that name then we should use it. In Acts 8:12 it says that Phillip preached the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ. We could use a sermon on the name of Jesus Christ. I think we would use it more. His name is a gift for us to use to further the kingdom. Today we celebrate 9-11 and I pray that the name of Jesus will be lifted up in our nation to bring peace, salvation, deliverance, and protection.