In Vain...

3rd commandment...

"You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name."

Many know this command but don't really understand its meaning. The NIV words it as you see above. In other translations, it is stated as taking the Lord's name in vain. This generation sees this as not to saying the name Jesus Christ in anger or to put the word "damn" after the name of God. Although it is true that doing those things is vainly speaking the name of the Lord, that is not the only way it is done. We know that the power of our words are great, and the name of the Lord is greater still, so calling on the name of the Lord with ill intention or malace could also be classified as a violation of this statute. In the New Testament, it is writen that swearing is detramental to you and can invoke a curse on you. Not swearing as in saying a vulgar word or phrase (which is also frowned on), but swearing as in saying, " I swear mom, I didn't eat the cookies" while you dust the crumbs off your shirt. Many people do this every day. For example, a man loses his wife's wedding ring and has searched for it high and low, he finally says "God please, if you let me find this ring I will never lie to my wife ever again" while in his heart he already plans on just putting his wife's ring back where it belongs so he can act like it never happened. Now, others say that they come in the name of the Lord and yet their intentions are only to benefit from what they can gain from using his name, and thus, are doing so in vain. After this it still may be hard to see how He is protecting us from something with this law. I tell you, He protected you from cursing and shaming your self and your family. He has also removed you from the wrath that will come to those who lead others astray in His name. Be glad He has given us safe gaurds from all evil, if we just obey. *MERRY CHRISTMAS*