Words to Treasure
Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will find guilty anyone who misuses his name.
Exodus 20:7
Laurie tried not to listen to the older kids on the bus, but they were very loud. She had heard swear words like that on television, in movies, and at school. Sometimes even famous people used Jesus’ name like a swear word. That made her sad. But why?
First off, some words are very rude and wrong. When people use them, they aren’t showing respect or care for the people around them. And it doesn’t look good on them either.
Other words hurt God deeply and are a sin. When people use the name of God or Jesus as a swear word, they are disrespecting God and Jesus in the worst possible way. Think of it this way — Jesus would never do or say anything to insult, hurt, or disrespect you. When he talks about you or says your name, it is always with kindness, love, and friendship. Shouldn’t we be that way too? God’s name is holy!
But remember, you can’t police what strangers say. You can only be careful about what you say.
People in Bible Times
Do you think God knows your name? There are lots of cases in the Bible where God called people by their first names. God called to Moses from the burning bush. When the prophet Samuel was a little boy, God called his name over and over again. God doesn’t need name tags; he knows who you are.