October 28
Message: Using God's Name Frivolously
Time: Most likely this book was penned by Moses. The book covers a period of approximately eighty years, from shortly before Moses’s birth (c. 1526 BC) to the events that occurred at Mount Sinai in 1446 BC. The Bible's message of redemption appears in Exodus as well: though the children of Israel were enslaved in a foreign land, God miraculously and dramatically delivered them to freedom, provided the Law, established the system of sacrifice, and gave instructions on building of His tabernacle. God began to fulfill His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
What the Lord is Saying:
I am not sure there is any commandment that is broken more than this one in our society right now. The way God's name is thrown around and used to cry out disgust or as a curse word is crazy. There is a normal exclamation of OM_ which has become a norm as well and I don't get it. It is interesting because I love old movies and using God's name as a curse word was not prevalent before the sixties in movies. Cursing in general was not done. And yet now it is common in books, TV, and movies. And yet there are other words that have now become offensive, but not God's name.
I'm always reminded that Jews will not even utter God's name and write it out as G-D for it is too holy of a name to even write. Jews view Deuteronomy 12:4 as meaning that we are prohibited from desecrating, destroying, or erasing God's name. Tom Nelson mentioned one time in a lesson that when men copied the Torah they would not copy each word, but copy each letter and if they ever made a mistake on copying God's name the paper would have to be ripped up and start all over. Again, it is amazing to think how far we've come in our use of God's name.
November 15
Matthew 12:34 - For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.
It is not only cursing, but any use of God's name in a frivolous manner shows disrespect to our creator. I need to watch this in my life as I can often give rise to a joke.
Summary: Blasphemy or using God's name frivolously are examples of taking God's name in vain.
Promise: Be quick to repent and let's honor God with our speech and do the reverse of blasphemy and extol and praise His name throughout our lives.
Prayer: O Lord God, I want you use your name in a way that brings honor to your name and respect. I want to turn from any way in my life in which I do not respect this name. Even in my entertainment Lord help me to stay clear of circumstances and shows and movies that bring disdain to You. Lord, our culture has little respect for you and for their sins and often my agreement or listening ear I ask your forgiveness, for them and for me. Be glorified always.
Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of July is about the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.
Bringing me to Christ
The Restraint of the Law - the law is given for lawless, unholy, disobedient people, to restrain us from acting on our sinful thoughts. Restraint and Guilt - the law is meant to restrain Christians and non-Christians alike; so that others may see Christ. The Law's Revelation of Sin - The Law reveals sin, at times making it more desirable, and show the sin which people commit and the complete standard it expects. The Law and Our Powerlessness - We are powerless over the Law and Sin revealed. It is in Christ that we receive forgiveness and the power to resist sin. The Law our Guardian - The law is not a tool of justifying me, but rather it is an instrument to bring me to Christ and show me my need for Him.
Guiding our Lives
The Guidance of the Law - The Law is a guide in our lives for what pleases God and what it looks like to walk in holiness. The Antinomian Error - We were slaves to sin, but now we are slaves to obedience and righteousness. Judaizing Legalism - The error of Judaizing Legalism is the idea that obedience brings about God's acceptance of us for salvation. The Deadliest Form of Legalism - This legalism is that one would get too focused on external practices instead of focusing on the heart.
The Law is our Guide
The Centrality of Love - Love and the law go hand in hand. We do not belong to God unless we love our neighbor, and we cannot love our neighbor without knowing and doing God‘s law and loving him. Finding Guidance in the Law - God's Word, all if it, is a guide to my life and I am to meditate on it continually. The One and Only God - I seek to trust and love God above all else today. Images and Idols - Pictures, statues, symbols, art, people are not bad; but be careful about placing too much emphasis on these things I see.
