I’m being challenged lately on my motives in thought, word and deed. In my routine reading of the Bible, I recently had an epiphany about the third commandment.
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” – Exodus 20:7
I always thought this meant that we are not to use the name of God or Jesus as a cuss word. This is what was commonly taught regarding the command during my childhood. And to be honest, I gave it no further thought. But as I was contemplating recently, the Lord illuminated to me that to take His name is to be His representative, to declare that we are closely connected, that He is my Father or My Husband. Therefore, when people consider me to be a ‘Christian’, they are connecting my words, attitudes and actions to Jesus and His character. They are in a sense holding Him responsible for my actions as I have declared Him to be my Head and my Lord.
This notion has challenged me deeply to reflect on my motives. Am I being a true representative of Christ in the way that I act? Not always! Having been a Christian for years, I still often act out of selfishness and impure motives exuding pride, anger, self-righteousness and self-seeking attitudes. Where I should be exhibiting the Fruit of the Spirit, giving life and sustenance to those around me, I have at times developed bitter and rotten fruit. This comes from choosing to live by the flesh (sin nature) rather than by the Spirit, having neglected to submit an area of my life to His Lordship and the transformative power of His Spirit. Jesus never sought to exalt Himself. He always sought His Father’s will alone and submitted himself humbly and graciously to the will of the Father.
Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.’ - Philippians 2:6-11
In my humanity, I seek to be ‘right’ and ‘justified’ in my ideas and opinions and became hurt, angry and frustrated when others don’t agree with me or see things from my point of view (which, of course, is the right one). I pursue my own will and desires and that which I perceive will make me happy and content. Jesus never did this. He never boasted or exalted himself above others but humbled Himself. Even when He was right, good and justified, He allowed time and space for others to ponder things and to learn and grow. He never succumbed to the flesh or the temptation of the devil but stood firmly in His identity as the Son of God.
Vanity is to have ‘excessive pride in one’s own appearance or achievements’. The third commandment then may also indicate that we are not to take the Lord’s name with the motive of making ourselves to appear ‘good’ or ‘superior’ to others. No-one is ‘good’ but God alone (Mark 10:18). Even our greatest works done in the flesh amount to nothing unless they stem from the life-giving Spirit of God and glorify Him.
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. – Phillipians 2:3-4
It is one thing to have these insights revealed, but another to put them into practice. It must now become a day-by-day and moment-by-moment choice whether to feed and nourish the flesh or the Spirit. For whichever is fed and nourished – the natural man or the Spirit man - that is the one which will grow stronger within us and will determine our character, the type of fruit we produce and our representation of God to those around us.
For the wise man not only hears the Words of God but puts them into practice.
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” – Matthew 7:24-27
The Bible gives us an ultimate picture of where ‘practicing’ (repetitively, routinely and wilfully engaging in) the works of the flesh leads, in comparison to putting His Word into practicing, resulting in the development of the fruits of the Spirit.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. – Galatians 5:19-26
Let it become our ‘practice’ to submit ourselves to God and His will daily, in everything we think, say and do. For it is only as we yield ourselves to the Father’s Will that we can live by the Spirit rather than being controlled by the flesh.
Loving Heavenly Father, thank you for being slow to anger and patient with me as I seek to grow in Your love and truth. Thank you for your deeply abiding love and compassion as I seek to learn from you and allow you to develop spiritual fruits in my life. Thank you for the example of Jesus and the sacrifice He made for us by humbling Himself and coming to earth. Forgive me for the times I have sought my own glory above yours and have caused pain or confusion to others. Let us be not only hearers of the Word but also doers, that we may bring glory and honour to Your name and be a blessing to those around us.
In Jesus precious name,
Amen