“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”
Exodus 20:7
Zeal for Purposeful Worship
Daily Devotion – March 7, 2024
Devotion based on Exodus 20:7
See series: Devotions
Being a parent is a joy and a challenge. Your child can make you proud and look good by the way they live their life. Your child can also disappoint you and disgrace your family name. Fair or not, your child is a reflection of you.
The Bible says that God is your heavenly Father. Those who trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior are called God’s child and bear God’s name—Christian. They are part of God’s family. They represent God as they live their lives. People see who God is and what God is like as they encounter God’s people.
Today’s Bible passage is a strong warning against misrepresenting God and his good name. Every time we speak or act in ways that go against who God is and what God is like, we break this commandment.
Thankfully, God has given us the sacrament of holy baptism. In this sacrament, water is poured over a person in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. In this act, God is giving the person his name and making the person a member of his family. Through faith in Jesus, God washes away their sin–even the sin of misusing his name.
If you’ve not been baptized, find a faithful church and find out more about it. You want and need the remarkable blessings it affords. And as a baptized child of God, you can spend the rest of your life properly protecting God’s good name.
Today’s reading is the second commandment. It sounds negative, but God is trying to help us understand the privilege and responsibility of being a part of his eternal family. It’s a special family. Embrace the privileges and responsibilities that go along with the name.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me to always properly represent your good name. Amen.
