March 26- No Other Name

Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25
Luke 7:11-35
Psalm 68:19-35
Proverbs 11:29-31

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

I grew up having a good respect for God's name. To this day I hate hearing people say "gosh" or "jeez" when they get upset or excited. I'd say that those foundations for honoring the name of God have lasted a long time. However, this verse is more than just rebuking those who say "gosh." This verse has a more general theme of how we treat God. Do we respect and honor God as holy? Do we treat God as if he is the creator and savior of the world? Or, do we relate to God as if he is something less than perfect? I must confess that I've misused his name tons of times. When I say a prayer in his name and don't realize what I am asking for. When I sing in his name and voice lyrics without acknowledging what I am singing about. When I take the Lord's Supper in his name and forget what the emblems mean. Yes, in these cases and in so many others, I misuse his name. Today's verse serves as a reminder that God is to be treated as holy. We should never forget who we are talking to and about when we say the word "God." God is holy, and his name should be treated as such.