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Hey All

It never ceases to amaze my how God weaves things together in our lives. As I continued to read the Word this past week and a book about the changes in the church today, I was reminded about the power that is in the Word of God that God gave us for instruction. It says in Hebrews 4:12 For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart ……..but do we take this for granted? If I answer this honestly, then I have to say Yes. I have not treated or given the Word of God the necessary attention in my life that is required for it to be living and active. Isaiah said it differently in Isaiah 55:10-11 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from my mouth; It will not return empty without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. Here we see that the Lord says His Word will not return empty!!! It is going to deliver results. As we continue on in the Ten (10) Commandments this week we are looking at the 2nd commandment which speaks to our words and how we are to use them. So now that we are reminded that God’s Word has Power lets dig a little deeper on how our words are to be used.

 The Second Commandment

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain.

What Does this mean: We should fear and love God that we may not curse, swear, use witchcraft, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in the day of trouble, pray praise and give thanks.

What does God Want or NOT want us to do?

In the most basic sense God does not want us to lie about anything or use deception against others. Now if everyone practiced this in the entire world, what a different place we would live in today. We would not need courts because people would not cheat others. Businesses could operate differently because they would not have to worry about deceptive practices. Everyone would be honest and work out our differences. Yet we know that even during biblical times this was not the case. Additionally, and even more important, God does not want us to use His name when lying or deceiving others because now not only are we lying, but we are dragging a Holy God into our deception.  James said in James 3:9-10 With it we bless our Lord and Father and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not be this way. We are to use our mouths to speak only what is good. Now that can be a real challenge on some days.

In a similar but equally important manner, God does not want us to use His name carelessly or in vain. Yet we hear this all the time in conversation such as: “Ohh Lordy”,… “Good God”,…. “Jesus Christ”,….”For Christ sake”‘….none of these examples being used in a sentence bring respect, honor and praise that a Holy God deserves. If we really respected an individual, we would approach them as Mr. or Mrs. ……Dr….Mr President,…..with carefully chosen words used after that to honor the individual to which we are conversing. Still we see God’s name slung around in conversation for negative or humorous remarks. Here again, I have had many years of needing grace as I struggled mightily in this area growing up but as we grow in the Spirit these things get easier to place behind us.

Finally God wants us to call upon Him and use the power of His Word to: worship Him, to bring praise and honor to His name, to confirm truths in a court of Law, when thanking Him for His many blessings, in prayer and when we are in need. David wrote in Psalm 50:15 Call upon me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you and you will honor me….and Psalm 118:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His loving kindness is everlasting.

So to wrap up

As disciples of Christ living in a fallen world we have to be different and show that our beliefs mean something in the way we live our lives, show love to others and the way we speak to others. Paul reminds us in Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of your mind. Honoring God by living out the 2nd commandment shows where our heart is as it says in Matthew 12:34 For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. Finally God gives us His powerful Word to instruct us, correct us and equip us to do His work everyday in the world we live; 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for good work….but it is up to us to make time to spend time in the Word to truly unlock it’s power in our lives.

Father God I pray this week that your Holy Spirit will convict each of us in the area that we need your love and support in to correct our lives from sin. It’s tough to look in the mirror and ask your forgiveness for not honoring you daily as a Holy God with power over everything. I thank you for the many blessings you give us on a daily basis for there are so many who have way less than I. Father let me not take anything for granted and help me to live a life that others can fully see you are at work in me. Amen? AMEN!

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