Grace and Peace Episode 48
Presbyterian Church of Easton
August 29, 2021
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:2
Heidelberg Catechism
99Q. What is the aim of the third commandment?
A. That we neither blaspheme nor misuse the name of God by cursing, perjury, or unnecessary oaths, nor share in such horrible sins by being silent bystanders. In summary, we should use the holy name of God only with reverence and awe, so that we may properly confess God, pray to God, and glorify God in all our words and works.
100Q. Is blasphemy of God’s name by swearing and cursing really such a serious sin that God is angry also with those who do not do all they can to help prevent and forbid it?
A. Yes, indeed. No sin is greater or provokes God’s wrath more than blaspheming his name.That is why God commanded it to be punished with death.
Deuteronomy 5:1 Moses summoned all Israel and said: 11 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
We all have names, usually given to us by our parents. And we realized, early in our lives, that by using our names people had control over us. All my mother had to do was say, “Jeff, stop jumping on the furniture”, and I knew that she had control over me. When I went to school my teacher knew to learn the names of the kids quickly so that she would have control over the class. She would say things like “Jeff, pay attention”, and I knew that I better stop talking to my friend. Knowing someone’s name means, in some sense, that you have control over that person.
We have no control over God. God will do whatever God will do. That’s what it means to be God. So when we invoke God’s name in prayer we must not try to control God. Rather, in prayer, we approach God with reverence and humility and ask God for what we need, our daily bread. We are not trying to control God to do what we want. God’s name is not magic. We don’t use it as a spell to get something we want. Rather prayer is a way to communicate with God expressing what we need and finding out God’s will for us.
We are to use the holy name of God properly when we pray. We speak to God with respect calling him “Our Father”. And we are to keep God’s name holy. We are to use God’s name not for our own purposes, but for God purposes. Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father, give us what we need and show us what to do. We pray this in the glorious name of Jesus. Amen.
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