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

We have considered two ways we in which we take the name of the Lord in vain. The first is by literally using His name in anger, when swearing, or merely flippantly. The second is by worshiping God thoughtlessly, flippantly, or unbiblically.

A third way we often take the Lord’s name in vain is by living lifestyles that are unbecoming of a follower of Jesus. First, do we not “take the Lord’s name” when we identify ourselves as Christians? And second, do we not “take the Lord’s name in vain” by living as though we are not His followers?

Paul wrote to Titus (1:16) of people “who profess to know God but in their works [lifestyle] they deny Him.” Clearly then, calling ourselves Christians while living in sin is taking the Lord’s name in vain and a breaking of the third commandment. What kind of sin? Any sin, whether immorality, or dishonesty, or drunkenness, or gluttony, or in any other sinful manner.

And even beyond living a lifestyle of sin, every time we sin in any way, in that moment, we have taken the Lord’s name in vain. Do I say this so that we would all despair, and give up? Not at all. I say this so that we would be reminded how much we need a Savior—and the constant forgiveness He alone supplies.

We must not think that taking the Lord’s name in vain is no big deal. It is a big deal. So let us rely on our great Savior by confessing our sins (great or small), and doing all we can in the power of the Holy Spirit to turn from our sins to live in holiness. May our lives increasingly honor His name!