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"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain , for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who takes His name in vain"  Exodus 20:7

Gen 17:5

 No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.

Names cause thoughts to come to mind and emotions to rise.  Memories surface because a name represents something about who the person is, what they have done and how they have lived.  

We take great care in naming our children, and spend months before we decide on a name.  Names are also important to God.  He actually names people Himself, or changed their names at key moments in their lives.  When character changed, He changed their names.

Jesus changed Simon Peter's name to Peter "the rock" because he had changed from a wishy-washy, unreliable man to a firm and strong one who would take a stand.

When we accept Christ, our name is recorded in the "Lamb's book of life."

When language becomes unacceptable, we call it  "profanity."  The word "profane" means "debasing or defiling that which is holy or worthy of reverence."  It is an attack on something that is holy.

To "profane" (take in vain) the name of God is to deny who He is,  It is a grave and serious business.

By cursing, we destroy the concept of a lofty God above us, and we drag Him down to our level or below.

 "Damn" is to condemn someone to a fate.  Does that matter to God? 

God made it one of the commandments because He knows that every time these terms are used, incredible destruction comes into my life and the lives of people I love.  

If we do not honor His name and put Him first, life is just plain not going to work. 

 IT DOES MATTER IF YOU TAKE HIS NAME IN VAIN!

You can't take His name in vain and not pay the price.

Matt 12:36-37:

"But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 
For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

The words we speak tend to affect what we  actually experience in life.

There is power in His name, and in Jesus' name.  Demons scream and are in torment at the mention of His name.  When we use His name, we set something  in motion in the spiritual realm - for good or bad.

He warns us of the dangers because He loves us!  There is not only a consequence- but an ultimate disaster when we take His name in vain.

Psalm 61:5

"For you have heard my vows, O God; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name."

John 20:31

"But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."

Acts 4:12

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Our words are linked with our hearts. 

Matt 12:34

"You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks."

Matt 15:18

"But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.'"

Isa 6:5

"Woe to me!" I cried.  'I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.' "

To take His name in vain (which means "empty") is to ask in His name with no sense of conviction.  It is using His name in jest. 

We must be careful- this is the name that at which "every knee shall bow."

Are we too cozy with it?  Too casual???

Our response:

Recognize our sin and confess it.  

Agree with Him and be sorry, truly sorry.

Accept His forgiveness.

Practice God's presence in all we do.

Psalm 130:3-4

If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.

Father, we thank you for loving us enough to warn us of the dangers of not honoring you.   May our words always be honoring to you, and if they are not, let us be quick to hear and repent!  Let us not be afraid to let others know how we detest your name being used irreverently or in vain. May our very words be a witness and full of praise to you!  In Your Son's PRECIOUS name we pray,

Amen!