Unloading the last bag of groceries into her car in the parking lot, drenched with rain, in frustration she cursed His name. Something inside me cringed as it does every time I hear the name of Jesus Christ or God spoken in vain.
I have friends that say they have become so accustomed to hearing it spoken thusly that they don’t even notice anymore. To me, that’s just sad. The reverence and power associated with the Lord’s name is gone. The sensitivity is lost.
When I’m invited to go with friends to see a movie, that’s the “biggy” for me. I go to the Plugged In Online site and check how Focus on the Family has rated the language. If God’s name is going to be blasphemed, my decision is made. Personally, I don’t want to pay to hear the name of my Savoir slandered. Do I miss some good movies? Guess it depends on what you label “good”.
This might sound harsh to some, but I have to be faithful and true to the conviction that God has placed on my heart. I’m not condemning others who are not held to this personal standard, it’s just the one the Lord has given me.
Yesterday I wrote about how one day God will give us a new name, but did you know He will have a new name too?
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.” Rev.19:11-12
The Lord has a name that no-one knows. It has never been spoken in a slur of expletives. It has not been cursed or profaned. It has never been used as an obscene expression. It hasn’t been spoken carelessly as “filler”, without thought. A name that has been kept holy and sacred.
One day His name will receive the honour due. Philippians 2:9-11 tells us that God exalted Christ “to the highest place and gave him a name that is above every other name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Oh Lord, there really is something about Your name.
6 comments:
Hi Joy! I read somewhere that when we hear the Lord's name used in vain, it's the Holy Spirit in us that reacts. I, too, cringe when His name is used inappropiately. Have even said, "Where?" when just His name is used.
Joy,
I wanted to respond to you on your blog because I LOVE, LOVE what you wrote this morning! The slander of Christ's name, God's name gets all over me too. The hardest is when it is coming from inside my own home :( I keep praying and I keep putting my faith in God that He is working. I see the changes right before my very eyes! I was telling my husband the other night how sad it was to turn on Prime TV at 7:00 and not be able to watch a show that did not have cursing in it. It is sad that now there is no filter. I don't watch TV at night hardly at all, I read my reading for the next day in our Bible, but I happened to just turn on a reality show and what I heard and saw just made me realize why I don't watch TV anymore. When I do I will stick to Joyce Meyer, Life Today, Food Network and HGTV. Everything else just saddens me now.
Have a blessed weekend Joy and have a great time today at your women's event. Oh, and don't worry about offending anyone about the diet, hopefully people will understand. I have found most people do. I have had a few that seem to want to disagree, but they are in the medical community and everything I have read said that they normally don't agree with even the possibility that yeast could really cause all these problems. I will post on my blog a new recipe in the next day or so. I have been getting my house cleaned today. With Will home all week last week it needed some work :)
See you on Wendy's blog!
Love,
Brandee
I commend your good heart and am with you regarding the strength, power, and integrity of our Father's name. Honestly, do people really understand that when they use his name in a callous manner, our Father can't help but take strong notice to that?!
Thanks, Joy, for continuing to stand strong in your faith during a time that remains tenuous in the life of your family. You are on my heart and in my prayers this day.
peace~elaine
This has been a pet peeve of mine as well. I never understand why it's being done.
Amen. I, too, cringe when I hear His name being used in vain. Maybe I should borrow Sue's reply: "Where?" and see what happens.
Thanks for your great perspective, Joy. You're right--we tend to overlook this far too easily. And I'd never thought about the Lord's new name being completely pure. I love that!
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