The Right Attitude Toward God’s Name

He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; holy and awesome is His name.

–Psalm 111:9

The third commandment says, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain” (Exodus 20:7). Why do we misuse God’s name even though the Bible says it is a severe offense?

One reason is a lack of knowledge. Maybe you thought misusing God’s name was limited to profanity. If you’ve been taking God’s name in vain in other ways, you can ask for His forgiveness and commit to revering His name from now on.

Another reason we misuse God’s name may be a lack of salvation. If you’ve had a genuine encounter with the Lord, you won’t use His name frivolously; instead, you’ll have the same reaction as Peter: “He fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, ‘Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!’” (Luke 5:8). A true Christian will have an attitude of reverence toward God’s name.

A final reason we misuse God’s name is a lack of self-control. Maybe you’ve used God’s name carelessly for so long that it’s become a habit. Or maybe you grew up in a home where God’s name was misused regularly, so it no longer fazes you. Let me give you three keys for guarding against unwholesome speech, including the misuse of God’s name.

1. Admit to God that you need to control your speech. In Matthew 12:36–37, Jesus said we will be held accountable for every idle word we speak. This isn’t an issue you can afford to ignore.
2. Don’t associate with people who take God’s name in vain regularly. Proverbs 22:24–25 says, “Do not associate with a man given to anger; or go with a hot-tempered man, or you will learn his ways and find a snare for yourself.” The same is true for those misusing God’s name.
3. Fill your mind with edifying thoughts about God. It’s not enough to resolve not to misuse God’s name–you need to replace that bad habit with a good habit. Instead of trivializing God’s name, think about the holiness of God’s name. I recommend memorizing Psalm 111:9: “He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; holy and awesome is His name.” God’s name reflects who He is and what He has done for you. Revere His name.

Today’s devotion is adapted from “The Third Commandment: Revere God’s Name” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2023.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.