Day 3 - Carrying His Identity

On Sunday, Pastor Will added another Hebrew word for us to chew on - shem. It is used to identify someone which on a deeper level the word carries reputation, fame, and character. Adding on from yesterday’s devotional with the Hebrew word nasa, God is giving the commandment that we should not be carrying, bearing, or taking up the identity, reputation, or character of God falsely. As mentioned yesterday, this is more than just using His name in a curse. 

The name of God is more than a label - the name of God carries an identity, a reputation. He is commanding us not to use His reputation and His identity to make false claims. “You shall not [lift, carry, bear, or take up] the [identity, reputation, character] of the Lord your God in vain…” (Exodus 20:7 ESV). 

Are you attaching God's character or identity to something that didn't actually come from Him? Can you recognize the difference between your own ideas and ideas that you are claiming to come from God?