Faith in God’s Name and in His Rest

“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.” [1]

Martin Luther wrote, “We should so fear and love God as not to curse, swear, conjure, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon Him in every time of need, and worship Him with prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.” [2]

“The Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His Name in vain” is a weighty incentive not to do it. The Name of the Lord is above every other name. One day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. [3]

There is power in the Name of the Lord! There is healing in the Name of the Lord! There is salvation in the Name of the Lord. Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” [4]

Martin Luther wrote, “We should so fear and love God as not to despise His Word and the preaching of the Gospel, but deem it holy, and willingly hear and learn it.” [5]

God who created and sustains the universe rests one day in seven. So can and so should we. He made the Sabbath for our sakes so we could enjoy one day per week with Him in worship, have fellowship with other Christians, and be spiritually edified.

The Lord is trustworthy in these matters. He honors those who honor His Name. He honors those who honor Him with their time, treasure and talent. No one can outgive God.

The second and third commandments should not be deemed as obligations but as worship and as thanksgiving to the God of grace, kindness and love.

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” [6]

Faith in Christ is the key to entering the eternal Promised Land to be with God and His people. We honor the Name of Jesus because His Name literally means Savior/Salvation. We honor the Sabbath because it is our act of faith in God as our Provider, Sustainer and Protector.

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” [6]

[1] Exodus 20:7
[2] Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, page 14
[3] Philippians 2:8-11
[4] Exodus 20:8-11
[5] Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, page 14
[6] Hebrews 10:23-25
[7] 1 John 5:4