What does it mean to take the name of the Lord in vain? Most of us have been taught that means we should not swear. True, but there is much more to it. The Jews neither speak nor write God's name, choosing to avoid any chance of using it in vain. Christians, on the other hand, bandy God's name around without much thought. They even risk using it as a magical incantation. What thought is given to the phrase, "In Jesus' name" when it is tacked on the end of a prayer? If we would be honest, it comes off as a type of listing our requests and since the Bible says, "If you ask anything in My name, believing, you will receive", we think we can blackmail God into giving us what we want because we asked in His name.
At marriage, a woman takes her husband's name. As a result, from then on everything she says and does reflects on her husband. The same thing is true for a nation's ambassador. He is operating under the authority of the nation, but his words and actions also reflect on the nation. As Christians we are ambassadors for Christ, operating under His authority.
How often do we think upon how our words and actions reflect upon Him?
If we took our respect for His name seriously, wouldn't we be more careful how lightly we use His name?
Would that change the flippant way we use the phrase, "In Jesus' name"?
How can we use God's name more respectfully?
Are we offended when someone doesn't show proper respect?
Are we really any better than those who use God's name as a swear word, if we use it disrespectfully?
Are we so vain that we choose to speak for God? How would that look?
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