One of the Ten Commandments is being mishandled and misapplied by parents and kids probably more than any other. While there is certainly much discussion about the fourth commandment on keeping the Sabbath, the one before it needs to be re-examined.
The third commandment says, “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” (Deuteronomy 5:11).
The Hebrew word for “take”, can also be translated “take up,” “bear,” or “carry”. Think of these illustrations:
- Woody with “ANDY” on his boot.
- An Aggie with “A&M” on their shirt.
- A Democrat with a “Biden” sign on their lawn.
- And a Christian with bumper stickers, necklaces, shirts, tattoos, and online profiles containing something about “Christ,” “God,” “Bible,” “faith,” or “Christianity.”
The prophet Isaiah saw people take the Lord’s name on themselves: “This one will say, ‘I am the Lord’s,’ another will call on the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’ and name himself by the name of Israel”” (Isaiah 44:5).
But the third commandment is a prohibition of taking the Lord’s name and yet living for another. It is the heart of hypocrisy and it involves using the holy name of the Lord God in an unholy way.
The New Testament re-establishes this commandment originally given to Israel, so that all of us believers in the church age can know it’s still binding on us today. Listen:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
Matthew 7:21-23
SO, if you believe in God or call yourself a Christian, do you take up His name but go on living in sin with little regard for the holiness of God? If so, you will not be held guiltless but rather be found guilty.
Yes, using God’s name as a bad word is part of the application to this commandment, but it comes nowhere near the full weight of what it involves.
It’s simple: God’s name is holy (set apart from sin). We are His. We should therefore live set apart. For He is worthy!
BUT, here is the deal: Even if we try really really really hard, we cannot obey this command; or ANY of them!
We will fail miserably over and over…we will find inconsistencies in our lives everywhere…we will feel like we are faking it until we appear to be making it…UNLESS we surrender our lives completely to God through repentance and faith in Christ!
If we have died to our old self and it is now Christ who lives in us (see Galatians 2:20), then we DO have what it takes to bear God’s name with purpose! It is Christ in us! Strengthening us! Living in us! His Holy Spirit gives us the resurrection power to turn from our sin each day and to walk in holiness as children of God. All for His glory!
SO, by the grace of God, available in Christ alone, accessed by faith alone, take up the name of Jesus today.
ALONGSIDE 
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