THANKFUL THURSDAY...whats the name?

Have you ever had your name printed on an announcement but only to find out that your name was incorrectly spelled? Worse than that, is to have someone introduce you but not pronounce your name correctly. The first instinct that I have when this happens is to correct the one speaking. After all, who wants their name known as something that it is not!

"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, NIV)

Obviously, God takes his name very seriously, and he doesn't want anyone misusing it. Consider this:

In ancient times, Kings would use messengers to communicate with other nations. When a messenger delivered a message, he would first announce the name of the king who sent him. This official announcement was very important. Once he used the king's name, his message carried the authority and power of the king. So, if the messenger delivered an inaccurate message, then he had "misused" the king's name because he said something with the king's authority that the king never told him to say.

The above verse in Exodus says that we should not misuse God's name. Like the messengers for the Kings, we are God's messengers. Misusing God's name means acting or speaking in ways that keep others from hearing the gospel message. This may include using God's name as an ugly swear word, but also it means doing things that go against His Word like gossiping, immorality or treating others unkindly.

I am thankful that there is power in the name of Jesus! Just speaking IT brings victory. May we all be sure that we do not misuse His name, so His message can be conveyed to everyone, correctly!

I will be hosting TT next month and look forward to seeing all of you here. Please join your grateful heart with ours today though over at Lynn's place as we all rejoice and be thankful! HAPPY THANKFUL THURSDAY!