INTENTIONALITY

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

IF YOU LIKE THIS POST PLEASE FOLLOW US, SHARE WITH OTHERS AND PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS AND GIVE US A LIKE.

Translate this site into your preferred language, look for our Google translator in our home page: diningwithjesus.net

Traduce este sitio en tu idioma preferido, busca nuestro traductor de Google en nuestra página de inicio ve a: diningwithjesus.net

In the third commandment, we are warned against the taking of the name of the Lord in a vain, hollow, or meaningless manner. The Hebrew word used in this command that we then translate into the English idea of “taking” the Lord’s name is that of תִשָּׂ֛א, tisa. This word is commonly used in Hebrew to describe the intentional picking up and carrying of a burden. 

When we “take” the name of the Lord, we do so knowingly, and intentionally. This is not an accidental action, nor is it something that has been forced upon you. To “tisa” the name of the Lord, we must know that we are taking steps to lift up and misuse that name. 

Listen again to the message of the third commandment: 

7 “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 ESV)

Hollow

One of the most likely interpretations you might have heard about the third commandment might be along the lines of, “if you use the Lord’s name as a swear word, you have sinned.”

While it is absolutely true that the use of the Lord’s name in such a way would no doubt be an example of vanity and hollowness, it is not the whole story. 

Intentional

To take up the name of the Lord is to knowingly and intentionally use the name of the Lord in a way that dishonors the Lord. If your use of the Lord’s name is intentional (you thought about it and it seemed like the right idea) and it is also vain (worthless, deceitful, hollow) then you are in violation of the command and therefore in sin. 

But if your use of the Lord’s name is not intentional, meaning you did not plan to say his name in that way, then what you have done is not a violation of the command, but it is a sign that you need to ask the Lord to help you grow in the area of self-control. 

Perspective

I want us to think about this idea of intentionality from a different perspective. In the Gospel of John we hear about a time that the Lord healed a man born blind. This man did not know Jesus but he did know that the man called Jesus of Nazareth had caused him to gain his sight. 

In the aftermath of this man’s encounter with the religious leaders who were weirdly upset that a miracle had happened, we hear the following exchange:

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” 37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” 38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 

39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” 

40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?” 41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

(John 9:35-41 NIV11)

Reflect

I love the way that Jesus Christ sets his enemies straight in a way that causes them to reflect on their own sin nature. They were harassing a man who had been healed because they hoped to gain leverage on Jesus. They witnessed that same man express his belief that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah, and then used even this beautiful moment as a weapon against Jesus. 

The religious leaders asked Jesus a very snarky question when they said, “What? Are we blind too?” No doubt they found it hilarious to even suggest that they might need healing and saving from Jesus, after all, they were men of religion and distinction. 

Jesus replied to their sarcasm by making it plain that because they witnessed this miracle and witnessed the birth of this man’s saving faith, that they were now culpable for their own eternal futures. 

Choosing

These men were not blind, they were choosing to act as though they were blind to the work being done through Jesus. Their disbelief was not an accident or a miscalculation, it was intentional. 

They were guilty of violating the third command. They had claimed the name of the Lord God Almighty, the I AM, as their own. They called themselves God’s children and yet chose to reject the work of the Lord and the person of the Christ. 

•   They had wrapped themselves in the banner of Yahweh, but they had no intention of submitting to the work of the Savior. This is a hollow use of the name of the Lord. 
•   These men would never tolerate the use of the Lord’s name as a swear word, and yet they were the living embodiment of a vain and worthless use of God’s holy name. 
•   Let us learn from them today. 
•   Let us be open to the work of the Lord as we embrace our calling as the children of his name. 

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

Get new content delivered directly to your inbox. Please Enter your email address in the box below.

• ShareCopied to clipboard

Copyright © 2024 Ryan Laden – All Rights Reserved.