March 31, 2020
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” Exodus 20:7
One of the Ten Commandments makes it clear that we should not misuse God’s name. We should not carelessly throw around the Lord’s name.
Yet, how often do you hear people say, “Oh my God” in casual and inappropriate ways. We may think nothing of this, but God himself commands us in Exodus 20 not to use his name lightly.
Words matter. Names matter. Reactions matter. How we use God’s name matters. Who we understand our God to be matters.
Here is a challenge for you (one that is much needed in our society): Don’t misuse God’s name by casually saying “Oh my God”. Don’t speak it out loud and don’t type it in text. In fact, don’t even ‘test the waters’ with pretending abbreviations are ok. Shortening it to OMG is not any better.
Instead, try using “Oh my God” in the most sincere and respectable form, in prayer. Literally prayer to God, “Oh my God…” Not out of casualness in conversation, but out of deep respect in prayer. “Oh my God, I am in awe of your majesty.”
Pastor Matt Knopf