Valuing the name of God in your family means representing him well. Meditate on this post and see how practical ways we can glorify God, and thus avoid using his name in vain.
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This is the third post in the series The 10 Commandments of the Family, in which we deepen the application of the Ten Commandments in the context of the family. These commandments point out the non-negotiable values for your family to fulfill the beautiful purpose that God has for you.
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
Exodus 20:7
The Name We Received
When God created mankind, He gave them the ability to fear Him as He deserves. Later, Moses delivered the 10 Commandments to the people of Israel, and those ordinances were reaffirmed by Jesus and his apostles for all of us. Among them, we find the third command “Do not use the name of the Lord in vain”.
The name of the Lord represents his person. It is used in vain whenever our person misrepresents the person of our Creator. Therefore, using the name of the Lord in vain means much more than just playing with the name of God or quoting the term “god” at an inappropriate time.
When someone uses his own life, his talents, and the authority he has received from the Lord to represent him inappropriately, the name of the Lord is used in vain. When a person uses religion, including the church and the Bible, or his leadership position to exercise control over others, the name of the Lord is used in vain.
Whose image is this?
There is a story quoted in the 3 synoptic gospels, with practically the same words. This shows us how important this conversation was.
Jesus is questioned by some Pharisees and Herodians about the tribute paid to Cezar. Realizing their bad intention, Jesus asks them to show him the currency that was used to pay that tax. The denarius was a silver coin equivalent in value to the daily wages of a manual worker.
Just as that coin had the impression of the image and the name of Cezar, each human being carries the image and name of God within them. Jesus then tells those men to hand over to Cezar what belongs to Cezar and to give to God what belongs to God.
Jesus makes reference to creation when God formed the human being in his image and according to his likeness to glorify him. He shows that he was not concerned with the political, financial, or religious issues that took all the time from those men.
Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.
Matthew 22:19-21
Living in the Name of the Lord
And he makes it clear that the Creator formed the human being to serve God, to represent him here on earth fulfilling his purpose. God created them male and female. Any gender variation does not represent God, it is the same as using his name in vain. He created man to be head of the family and to dominate over creation. Any position that man takes other than that does not represent the Creator well, it is the same as using his name in vain. He created the woman to be an essential and valuable helper for the man. Any role other than that does not represent him well, it is the same as using his name in vain.
He created the human being to live in his presence, in holiness and obedience to his word. Any other way of life does not glorify him, it is also the same as using his name in vain. God created the family to be a personal representation of him on earth. And the way we don’t use his name in vain is simply to live in a way worthy of the purpose he has given us.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:11-12
Conclusion
The name of the Lord represents his person. Every family that decides to represent the person of God well here on earth will not use his name in vain. So choose to live with your family so that the name of the Creator is glorified wherever you are and in everything you do, whether in words or actions. And so you will not use the name of God in vain, but you will be successful in everything, fulfilling His purpose for your family.
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17
Prayer: God, thank you so much for your love and for the noble purpose that you have given to my family. Please help me to represent you well here on earth and for all eternity. I choose to live your plans for my life, today and forever, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you?
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“I will bless those people who bless you. But I will curse anyone who insults you.
Through you, I will bless all the families of people on the earth.” Genesis 12:3
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