Resources for the Understanding and Application of the 3rd Word of Grace.

Again, some links and thoughts for some helpful resources for a better understanding of this third word of Grace.

1. From gotquestions.org, "What does it mean to take the Lord's name in vain?"

2. Here is an interesting site that will give you the reading of Exodus 20:7 from about a dozen different versions of the Bible ... along with a number of Bible commentaries insights into this commandment.

3. Want to learn more about the various names of God? Here's a concise article from bible.org that you might want to check out!

4.  Consider the following ACTION plan to put into practice the teaching of this third word of grace:

     Ask God to help you honor his name . . . ask him to help you see him for who he really is - for then you will be less likely to misuse his name and dishonor him in the process.

     Commit this word to memory: "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God." (Exodus 20:7)

     Take an inventory of your speech. Ask yourself, "Am I guilty of any of these misuses of God's name (a routine exclamation, a "necessary" validation, an angry condemnation, a thoughtless trivialization)?

     Inspect your heart. If you have a problem with your speech, the problem is NOT with your tongue but with your heart (see Mattew 12:34). You need to clean up your heart!

     Only speak reverently of God. Make this a covenant before GOD - THAT when you speak his name, it will always be with the utmost respect and reverence AND that you will view his name as a call to PRIORITY, INTEGRITY and INTIMACY!

     Note a quality of God - whenever you speak his name ... so pause for just a moment and think to yourself, "My God is holy ... merciful ... gracious ... eternal ... mighty ... just .... etc."

Thanks for stopping by . . .

pj