…He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Psalm 23: 4, NKJV
Gracious God, we praise and magnify Your matchless name! Please teach us how we can bring You glory. In the name of Jesus we pray! Amen
Today, we are going to take a look at an important topic: How we can bring glory to God’s great name!
“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). This command forms a part of the Decalogue, the Ten Commandments, or moral law. It is a very direct command, very straightforward, and easy to be understood! Yet, in spite of this fact, it seems as if this is one of the commandments that is most abused. On just about any sitcom, or talk show, people take the liberty to talk very lightly about the great God of the universe! As Christians we have the opportunity, and the sacred obligation, to be an example, in bringing glory to the name of God, by handling His name with reverence!
But there is yet another way that we can bring glory to the name of God: By the lives we live! When we take upon us the name of ‘Christian,” we automatically take on “the family name!” We declare to the world that God is our Father. I am sure that at some time or another, you may have heard some one say, “Don’t drag the family name through the mud.” In other words, do not make the family look bad! For His name’s sake, may we guard carefully, the lives we live, in order to bring Him glory.
The apostle Paul admonishes us, “Therefore, whether you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 1: 31). Then there is Matthew 5: 16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven,” a definite indication that with our lives we can honor, God, and bring glory to His marvelous name!
In 2 Timothy 2: 19 we find this most interesting verse! “But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are [H]is,’ and, ‘Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord, turn away from wickedness.’ “ Dearly beloved, if we as earthly parents can be so zealous for the preservation of “our good name,” how much more zealous we should be for God’s name to be held up high above any, and all, reproach! A very positive way of doing this, is by turning away from wickedness.
“The Lord knows those that are His,” and He is depending on us to lift the family name up high.” Let us also remember, that the Lord will not hold him [her] guiltless who takes His name in vain.” May God grant, that because of our love for Him, we will keep His commandments (John 14: 15); one of which admonishes us, not to “take His name in vain!”
Blessings!