How would you feel if you heard someone gossiping about you, or saying that you are a cheat and a liar?” It would hurt and you probably wouldn’t like it. Did you know that God is also sensitive about the use of his name?

It’s important enough to him that the third of the Ten Commandments is, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” The initial meaning of this commandment was not what we most often think of today. It was saying that when you use God’s name to swear a promise, as in a court of law, always make sure that you keep the promise. It still applies to marriage vows, baptismal vows, court testimony or whenever the name of God is invoked.

The second understanding of misusing God’s name is profanity. One of the most frequent insertions into every-day American conversation is, “Oh my God.” People say it in regards to the weather, sports, or just about anything that is happening. I don’t even know that they hear themselves saying it. But such flippancy in the use of his name is really an insult to God. We wouldn’t like it if our names were used in a similar way, and God doesn’t like it either. It’s a matter of respect. Remember, “The Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”