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
”Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength!” That’s the first and greatest commandment according to Jesus in Matthew 22. Life for the believer begins with love for God! That’s the gift of the new heart. Those who are saved by grace and renewed by the Holy Spirit will love God and walk in His ways (Eze 36:26-27). It is from that new heart of love for God that true obedience flows!
Israel was likewise commanded to be a people who love God first and foremost and put Him first in everything! That’s why the first table of the Ten Commandments begins with instruction in how Israel must love God. What is love for God, according to these commands? First, it is not having any other god before him, beside him or anywhere near him (Ex 20:3). He alone must be acknowledged and worshiped as God! Second, it is seen in refusing to make images of God, since every image dishonors God in some way (Ex 20:4-6). God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:24).
Then third, God must be loved by refusing to abuse or misuse His Name in any way! God’s Name represents His person! To make light of it is to make light of Him! And no one who truly loves Him can dare to treat Him lightly!
These were the first three commands given to Israel to teach them how they must relate to and love the God who saved them. We will focus on the third of these commands this morning, having to do with the honor of His Name. We will look, first, at what this command meant for them as part of Old Testament Law. Then we will consider what it means for us as part of God’s instruction for our good in what it means to love God and put Him first in all things.
Loving God with all Your Heart means putting Him first in all!
Pastor Scott