Commandment III.  

You shall not misuse the Name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His Name.

        "Misuse" means to use incorrectly. Wrong use of God's Name is to say God's Name in any context other than when speaking to God Himself, or talking about Him in conversation. Furthermore, God tells us that He will hold everyone who misuses His Name as guilty.

        Thus, God is judging anyone who says His Name without talking to Him directly, or referring to His character, as sinful and deserving of punishment.

        Do you "misuse the Name of the Lord your God"? What ways can we do this? 

Curse   Do you say any of these words: Jesus Christ; Jesus; Christ; God; Lord? When you say God's Name, are you in prayer, or do you speak out loud without thought? Do you sometimes speak the words out of shock or disgust? Do you ever say them to harm another person with your words? Do you recognize the fact that the One Whose Name you call can save you and all others because He is Love, (VS Jn) and that instead His Name is being used for the purpose of evil? Do you say the Name with reverence, knowing that the All-Hearing Lord God of the universe is paying attention to your every thought and word? (VS knows before I speak)

In most cases, if we are honest with ourselves, we can say "Yes, I 'misuse the Name of the Lord your God' in some ways."

Commandment IV.  

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.  

        "Sabbath" translated from Hebrew means "to cease" or "to desist". God Himself tells us that the Sabbath was instituted at creation (Gen.2:2). "Holy" means separated from what is unclean and to be consecrated to God. God commands us to stop being with that which is not holy and to be consecrated to God on one day of the week. To keep "Holy" the day, we are to reflect upon Him, His Character and what He does. We are to be separate from the "worldly system" and we are to submit to Him and glorify Him. We are to be focused upon Him and we are to rest in Him! (VS know He is God,) "Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy." This is a promise for you and me: If we keep one day a week holy unto Him, then we will be blessed.

John 4:24  Jesus says, "Worship in spirit and in truth."          Ways the Lord wants Worship.

Do you "remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy"?      In what ways do you do this? 

Church/Worship        Fellowship        Nature    Prayer/Bible        Family time

In most cases, if we are honest with ourselves, we can say "No, I do not often 'remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy'. I have spent most of my time doing something else."

Church/Worship, Do you go to church once a week, and listen to the Bible preached? As you listen, is your heart touched and changed by the God Who created you and speaks to you through His Bible? Do you think about the Word of God again outside of church? Do you give your heart to Jesus Christ during each celebration of the Eucharist? Do you remember with love and gratitude Jesus Christ's death on the cross for your sins? Do you worship the Lord God in Spirit and in Truth, John 4:24? Do you yield your heart as the Holy Spirit moves it to love, honor, obey and enjoy the Living and Eternal God? Do you seek His Face, His Presence in your worship? Do you strive for His relationship with you?

Fellowship, Do you enjoy the company of other Christians?  Does it feel good to be among other members of the Body of Christ? 

Nature, Do you appreciate all that God has done for you in creating the nature around you? Do you recognize that He made each blade of grass and cloud for your delight and enjoyment! Do you rejoice to know that the Lord God of the universe made you to recognize all of His handiwork  ( Psalm 19:1-4; 50:6) and  appreciate His immense and intense love personally for you, and for you to respond back to Him personally with your own love for Him?  When you listen, smell and see nature, do you listen for His small voice in your ear of love and peace? Do you seek His forgiveness in His ever-loving arms and release yourself to His control, as all of nature does?  ( The book of Job: Chapters 38 -41)

Prayer, Bible study/reflection,   Do you talk to God sincerely and with all of your mind, heart and soul?  Do you think about His Words in His Book to you? (the Bible)  Do you wait for His answers before you do something?  Do look for opportunities to do things for Him and for His glory only?  Do you read His Word with love and care, and talk with Him as you read it?

Family time with the Lord, Do you and your family spend time together in nature, fellowship, reading God's Word, and encouraging each other in relationship with the Lord?  Do you speak in loving ways to each other, careful to convey what God wants you to do and say?  Do you apologize sincerely and openly for hurting others' feelings and wrong doings?  Do you sincerely forgive others for what they have done to you when they ask for forgiveness?  (The Lord's Prayer ) Is everyone in the family compassionate to each other so that it is evident that God lives in your home? Have you made a spiritual and willful effort to try to accomplish what is listed in the above questions? God bless you!!!  Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  2 Cor. 12:9 The Lord told Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, My power is made perfect in weakness."

Worship 

Ways the Lord wants Worship:    1 Chron 16:29; 29:9; 

Psalm 22:29;  27:4;  84:1-3;  86:9;  99:5,9;   42:1-4; 51:6    122:1   

Matthew 2:11; 6:1-18;  14:33;  18:20;  28:9,17;          John 9:35;  

Acts 2:46; 5:20,42; 11:25,26; 15:35; 18:27; 24:14        Rom 12:1

1 Cor 11:23-29; 14:14-19, 26;            Phillip. 2:9-11;  3:3;  

Heb 1:6;  10:1-10            1Pet 4:10;   2 Pet 3:18   

Rev 7:11;  11:16;  

Commandment V.    

Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord you God is giving you.

"Honor" means to give respect. God states clearly that "Men should seek the honor or approval that comes from God instead of the approval of men." John 12:43. However, we are also to honor others as well. (Romans 12:10, Matthew 15:4) The Lord God Almighty gives us a promise with this commandment: If you honor your father and mother and the Lord is your God, then you will live long in the land which the Lord is giving you.

Do you "honor your father and mother"?    How do you honor each of them?     Do you:

Obey them      Speak kindly    Give      Help       Pray    

In most cases, if we are honest with ourselves, we can say "No, I do not "honor my father and mother" as fully as I should."

Obey them,     Do you do what they tell you to do, if it is a wholesome and fitting thing to do?  Ephesians 6:1-4 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right."  Do you do what they say with a cheerful and sincere heart, as if serving the Lord (Col 3:22-24)?

Treat and speak to them kindly, (even when it is hard):   When they talk to you, do you talk kindly to them, and act gently, too?   Is love and thoughtfulness in your thoughts and heart when you are with them?  Do you sincerely care for their feelings and well being?  Do you try to understand them?  Do you care for them in their lives? (Colossians 3:22-24)

Give them notes, cards or presents,       For special times or moments, do you bring them flowers or write your thoughts on paper to give to them?   Do you see something that they would like and save up to get it for them?   Are you thoughtful to give them a gentle hug when they may not be feeling well?   Do you tell them a joke or two to cheer them if that is what they like?

Helping them,   Do you look for ways to do things for them that they would like?   Do you ask to help them when they are doing something for the family?   Do you help clean the house, if that is what they would like?   Do you say, "May I help you?" sometimes?

Praying for them,   Do you talk to God about them and ask Him to help them be better?   Do you see that they have problems and talk to the Lord God Almighty about it?   He wants you to talk to Him.  Do you sometimes ask God to solve their problems, or give them what they need?   Do you do or say the words of encouragement that God might want you to do?   Do you ask the Lord to protect them from all evil, enable them to do His Holy Will, help them in their struggles, and to help them to love Him and you more?  Do you thank the Lord God for the parents that He gave you?

Notes from the Word of God

Colossians 3:22-24 - Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of hear and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your hear, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

1 John 3:7-10 - Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we are to know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother."

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