MOSES, FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FAITH, 7/24

Exodus 20:7
GOD’S LAST NAME IS NOT DAMN, Lesson 18a

In the Taurus mountains of southern Turkey, lives a certain variety of crane. These birds tend to cackle a lot, especially while flying. And, all that noise gets the attention of eagles, who swoop down and seize them for a meal. The experienced cranes avoid this threat by picking up stones large enough to fill their mouths. This prevents them from cackling--and from becoming lunch for the eagles. People have a problem with their mouths too. It seemed to me that this was an appropriate illustration to begin our study on the 3rd Commandment.

You see, on the front of every face is a large opening called a mouth. In each mouth is a little organ called a tongue. The tongue, though relatively small when compared to the whole body, is one of the most powerful forces in the universe. It must be! After all, man can split atoms, walk on the moon, construct enough weapons to destroy his world thousands of times over, yet he cannot seem to control his little tongue, (James 3:8). In James 3, the Bible gives us valuable insight into this little monster that lives in our mouths, (James 3:1-12). Paul tells us that as Christians, we are to use our tongues for noble pursuits, (Eph. 4:29). He also tells us in Col. 3:8, that we are to watch our filthy mouths. I don’t know how you feel about it, but to me, few things are as disgusting, as repulsive and as repugnant as a mouth spewing forth profanity and verbal stupidity. If you are guilty of using filthy language, then shame on you! But, I am sure you have good reasons for your foul mouth.

A man named Alex Dunlap has written and published a tract entitled Ten Reasons Why I Swear. The purpose of the tract was to show how foolish swearing was. Here are the reasons he gives:

It pleases my mother so much.
It is a fine mark of manliness.
It proves I have self-control.
It indicates how clearly my mind operates.
It makes my conversation so pleasing to everyone.
It leaves no doubt in anyone’s mind as to my good breeding.
It impresses people that I have more than an ordinary education.
It is an unmistakable sign of culture and refinement.
It makes me a very desirable personality among women and children of culture and refinement.
It is my way of honoring God, who said, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain."

Today, we have come to the 3rd Commandment. It deals with something far more serious than just a filthy mouth. This Commandment discusses the misuse, or profane use of God’s Holy Name. God’s Name is a Holy Name! It isn’t to be used unless it is used in connection with His praise or His proclamation. Sadly, to many it seems, God’s name is no more than a curse word. A by-word they can throw around at will.

Little Mary, attending Sunday School for the first time one Christmas season, eagerly listened as her teacher told of the birth of God’s Son. She thrilled to the story of the angels, wise men, the star, and the gifts. Then the teacher added, "And they shall call His name Jesus." She looked over at the person beside her and asked, "Why did they have to name such a sweet baby a swear word?" It was the first time that she had ever heard His Name used outside of a curse!

You know, kids just repeat what they hear! "The boy's mother was furious. `Young man, where did you learn to talk that way? "The boy hesitated, looked toward his father, and asked, `Well, Dad, should I tell her?'"

We are literally surrounded by profanity. These statistics concerning television ought to cause us some alarm. Did you know: In one year's time prime-time television airs 8,333 acts of violence, 14,313 incidents of sex, and 23,566 uses of profanity. --Wesleyan Advocate, Jun 1995 .

Profanity on television increased by an alarming 45% in the first four years of the 1990s, according to a Southern Illinois University study. Researchers monitored two weeks of prime-time programming on NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox, and found that words that were once banned are now heard about once every five minutes on prime-time sitcoms.


TODAY’S HYMN!
“Jesus, Name Above All Names” By Naida Hearn (1974)

Jesus, name above all names
Beautiful Savior, glorious Lord.
Emmanuel, God is with us,
Blessed Redeemer, Living Word.

THIS IS MY PRAYER!
Thank You Father for Loving us and for blessing us. You are an awesome God. Enable us to always remember to thank, the Lord of Host; especially when He brings us through tough situations, when we have faced our Goliath, when we have been in the lion’s den or the fiery furnaces of life, when our situation has seemed hopeless. Help us to remember to boast about our God and how He saved us and delivered us. Thank You Father for allowing us to learn more about Jesus and the battles He has fought for us. We joy and gladness we pray in His Name. Amen!


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