As a pastor I love it when God revels His truth to me not while I am preparing a message but while I am speaking. As I was preaching this morning, God not just changed the direction of the message but used it as a teaching moment for me as well as those listening.
As I thought my message on Ethics: on the job was near it's conclusion God pointed me to the 10 Commandments and had some very tough things to share. While looking at peoples moral character it is always discouraging to see that there is virtually no difference in behavior between those who claim to be Jesus' followers and those who don't. Christians are as likely to lie, steal, cheat and engage in sexually immoral practices as there unsaved counterparts.
In Exodus 20:7 it says:
"Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." KJV
"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." NIV
“You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name." NLT
The fact is that a countless number of Christians are taking the Name of God in vain daily by miss using it, not in words, but in the way we live our lives day in and day out. We tell people we are Christians and then live as if Jesus is still in the grave.
Isaiah 29:13 says, "The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men."
May God be honored by your whole being, not just in what you say. May He take captive our every thought and feeling for His glory. Amen!
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