The other morning, I was reading from a familiar passage. Truthfully, I was checking my Bible study off my list for the day. People say all of the time that something jumped off the page. It’s been used so much that it has become completely cliche. I won’t say that the words jumped, but they certainly seemed to grab my attention in a new way. I usually read one chapter a day. I was near the end of Exodus and using the Amplified version. Typically, I am a King James only girl (simply because the majority of scripture I have memorized came from that version.

In Exodus 20:7 it reads, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, irreverently, in false affirmations or in ways that impugn the character of God]; for the Lord will not hold guiltless nor leave unpunished the one who takes His name in vain [disregarding its reverence and its power]. ” If you had asked me as a child (or even leading up to this one morning), I would have told you not to use the Lord’s name as though it’s a swear word or not to use His name as though you really mean it as an exclamation of surprise or annoyance. You only call on His name when you mean to address Him; otherwise you are using His name in vain or for nothing.

What struck me though was the phrasing ” irreverently, in false affirmations or in ways that impugn the character of God.” I wondered (in that moment- and in many times of quiet reflection since) how often I call on God but lack the faith to believe that He will actually act. Sometimes, I wonder if I believe that He can act on my behalf. At those times, I think I am guilty of taking His name in vain because I am impugning His character.

To impugn is to call into question, to doubt, or to mistrust the character, motive, or actions of a person. God’s character, His truthfulness is holy, pure, blameless. His thought are higher than ours. I know this. Yet, if I am honest, there are times that I seem to want proof of His intentions toward me, my future, my children, my job (and the list goes on).

Today, I repent for taking His name in vain, for not trusting His character, and for looking to my own understanding. I thank Him that His thoughts are not my thoughts, and that His mercies are new every morning. I resolve to be less careless in what I think about Him and how I allow myself to believe about Him.

Citations: BibleGateway. (n.d.). Retrieved November 25, 2019, from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus+20:7&version=AMP.