Exodus 20:7 (Commandment Three) Meditation
Text (Ex 20:7, NIV):
"You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name."
Amplified Rendering:
"Love Me(1), fear Me(2), and honor My Name(3)—who I AM(4), what I'm about(5), what makes Me happy(6), and what makes Me sad and angry(7).
"Don't use Me or My Name to justify any aspect of your unlikeness to Me.
"Don't use Me or my Name as an excuse to chase an illusion or neglect your responsibilities(8).
"Don't use Me or twist My Words to prove yourself right in a pursuit you want but's not of Me or for you and those around you.
"Don't dishonor Me by claiming my forgiveness of sin is a justification for your not having to confess your sins(9); make amends to those you hurt(10); and, at times, suffer the temporal consequences of your actions(11). When you behave in an untrustworthy manner, understand it can take time to rebuild goodwill and trust among your brethren, friends, and family(12).
"I'm not a liar(13), so don't twist or water-down my Words or lie about what I said or didn't say. I'm not double-minded, and I don't change(14); so don't claim I've changed My Mind about the self-centeredness of dishonesty, the soul-suicide of unforgiveness, the infective sickness of bitterness, the profanation of immorality, the destructive fire of slander, or the bloodthirstiness of violence.
"And don't claim, either, I've changed My Mind about how much I love and care for you and every other person on earth(15).
"I've never been unfaithful(16), so don't claim your unfaithfulness and irresponsibility are excusable because you're living out some 'calling' from Me. It's not my calling upon your life. I called you to faithfulness(17), NOT unfaithfulness.
"I'm not a hypocrite, so stop trying to use My Name to hold those around you to a higher standard than you hold yourself(18).
"Don't profane Me or my proper Names by thinking or voicing them expletively.
"Don't fail to trust in My Name or call upon Me in times of difficulty, trouble, distress, anxiety, grief, sorrow, or suffering. I am He that saves; I will rescue, heal, and protect you(19). Call on Me; failing to do so is not just stupid, it's a misuse of my Name.
"All these things are intensely grievous and insulting to Me. In a manner, they forsake Me and relegate My Son, the Bright Morning Star(20), to the outer waste heaps of fallen creation. Great heartache and difficulty await those who perpetrate such things. Despite how intensely I love you and all those I've created, dishonoring Me brings with it significant and lasting consequences. Always.
"Beware! And, again, I say, 'Love Me, fear Me, and honor My Name—who I AM, what I'm about, what makes Me happy, and what makes Me sad and angry.' Do this, and you'll live; do otherwise, and death will swallow you whole. See? I'm placing before you this day—this very moment—life and death. Chose wisely. Your very life depends on it"(21).
Consecrating Prayer:
Holy Father…
O, how I love Your Name(22). It's like honey in my mouth. Enable me, O God, to never profane You in any manner. Give me an infinite fear of You(23).
In the Name of Jesus, I say and ask these things…
Amen.
Notes
See Dt 6:4-9.
See Dt 6:24.
See Mt 6:9 and Jn 5:23.
See Ex 3:14.
See Is 61:1-3.
See 1Th 4:1-5 and He 11:6.
See Pr 6:16-19 and Ro 1:16-20.
See Lk 11:42.
See Lv 5:5, Pr 28:13, and 1Jn 1:9.
See Mt 5:23-26.
See Proverbs (Yes, most of the book) and 1Pe 2:20 and 3:17.
Again, see Proverbs (Yes, most of the book).
See Tt 1:2 and He 6:18.
See Nu 23:19, He 13:8, and Ja 1:17.
See Jn 3:16 and 1Jn 4:7-8.
See Dt 7:9, Ps 33:4 and 91:4, 1Co 1:9, 2Ti 2:13, and 2Th 3:3.
See 2Chr 16:19, Mt 25:21, Jn 15:16, Ro 8:28, and Ga 5:22-23.
See Mt. 23:3 and 13, Ro 2:21 and 10:3, and 1Pe 5:1-3.
See Ps 91 and 107:19-22 and Ro 10:13.
See Re 22:16.
See Dt 30:15-20.
See Mt 6:9.
See Pr 10:27.
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