“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
Today’s verse isn’t just talking about using the name of God and Jesus Christ in a profane or blasphemous way. It’s also referring to breaking your promises.
Because as Christ-followers, everything you and I say… every oath we take or promise we make… is under God. So when we break a promise, we break that promise in the Lord’s name. That means we’re taking the Lord’s name in vain when we break a promise! That’s why Jesus said to let your “Yes” be “Yes” and your “No” be “No.”
Think about your marriage. When you stood at the altar and shared your wedding vows, you promised before God in a company of witnesses to love, honor, and cherish your mate… that you would live together until death separated you.
So let me ask you today, how are you doing on your wedding vows? Have you been faithful? Are you consistently loving, honoring, and cherishing your mate?
Think about your children. A lot of people dedicate their children to God, to raise them in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord. Let me ask you, are you keeping that promise? Are you being intentional about introducing your boys and girls to faith in Christ?
Now think about your own relationship with Christ and his body, the church. If you’ve been baptized, you’ve made a public declaration that your life has been changed by the power of Christ and you’ve said that you will live by his grace and be a part of the church. So let me ask you this: How are you keeping this promise to be a part of the church body?
People make many promises to God, many oaths in his name that they don’t keep. That’s why today, it’s my prayer that when it comes to your marriage, your children, and your relationship to Christ and his body, the church, you really will let your “Yes” be “Yes” and your “No” be “No.”
WHEN YOU BREAK A PROMISE, YOU TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD IN VAIN.
