READ: Exodus 20 (Focus vs. 1-4; 7-8; 12-17)
MEMORY VERSE
BACKGROUND
The vintage photograph fr om World War II, taken outside a town’s Nazi headquarters, carries a warning for all of us. In the photo, a comfortably dressed woman is crossing the street.
A man in a suit walks down the sidewalk, while another has stopped to read a bulletin board on the corner of the building. All seem oblivious to the large banner hanging above the headquarters’ front door, half as long as the building. It reads, “By resisting the Jew, I fight for the work of the Lord.”
This kind of treachery is what God had in mind when He commanded, “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).
This command covers misusing His name when we curse or when we carelessly shout God’s name when we stub a toe or smash a finger. It also includes perversion—using God’s name as cover for evil.
We shouldn’t assume we’re doing God’s work simply because others say we are. We must prayerfully check our work with what God reveals in the Bible. How can we know we’re serving Him?
Psalm 119:9 says, “By living according to your word.” The God who commands us to “always give [ourselves] fully to the work of the Lord” has told us what that work is in His holy book (1 Corinthians 15:58). Let’s listen to Him.
Mike Wittmer
INSIGHT
The first five books of the Bible, the Torah, have many laws—613 according to Jewish reckoning—so it’s easy to miss their relational framework.
The Ten Commandments begin: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery” (Exodus 20:2). Their obedience to God’s commandments expressed loyalty to their rescuer.
There’s another purpose for obedience to these covenantal laws: “Observe them carefully, for . . . what other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him?” (Deuteronomy 4:6-7).
Israel’s obedience would reveal God’s character and presence to watching nations. To fail at this would bring dishonor to His holy name. Today, we can ask God to help us be wise in how we use His name as well.
Tim Laniak*
APPLICATION
What work have you done in the name of God? How do you know it was what He wanted?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s Post)
We shouldn’t assume we’re doing God’s work simply because others say we are. We must prayerfully check our work with what God reveals in the Bible.
PR’s TAKE
“if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
“For my name’s sake I defer my anger; for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.” Isaiah 48:9-11
“Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came.” Ezekiel 36:22
“(Our) obedience reveals God’s character and presence to (a) watching (world). To fail at this would bring dishonor to His holy name.” Adapted – Today’s Insight
PRAYER
“Dear Father, please help me be wise, loving, and careful with what I do in Your name and help me guard Your name at all times.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“TRUST AND OBEY”
When we walk with the Lord
In the light of his word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss,
Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way…
But we never can prove
The delights of his love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows,
For the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way…
We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do,
Where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
