Do you know God—what He is like? God is known by His name. Do you use God’s name properly?
To the Religious
The spiritually minded must carefully consider the use of God’s name. It has become common practice to say Jesus Christ’s name repeatedly in a prayer-like fashion in private and public worship. Christ said, “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking” (Matthew 6:7). Remember, Jesus Christ is God (Hebrews 1:8). God the Father has given Him a name “Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come” (Ephesians 1:21). To say Jesus Christ’s name repeatedly is a vain, or useless, repetition. To begin or end every sentence with His name is vain repetition. Notice that Christ recognizes that people who truly know God would not do such things. Vainly repeating God’s name is a heathen practice! We must reverence God’s name even in our praying.
But there is more. Jesus Christ said, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). Prayer without obedience is the most subtle form of blasphemy. Religious people who talk about God all the time but do not obey God’s Word and His commandments are guilty of a far greater sin than the ones who admittedly live a sinful life but do not pretend to be religious. Religious hypocrisy is a violation of the Third Commandment.
Jesus Christ vehemently went after the rampant hypocrisy in the spiritual leaders of the first century. We must cut such spiritual cancer out of our lives if we truly desire to enter into God’s Kingdom. Christ also said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). Holding reverence for God with our speaking is clearly not enough. We must strive to obey God’s Word and commandments. We must desire to do God’s will.
It is time that all men, women and children deeply reverence God’s great name. His name represents His high office as Creator, His character and His dignity. God desires to be worshiped in “spirit and in truth.” He also commands us to use His name truthfully. Let’s be sure that we learn how to—then do so.
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