Philippians 2:10
That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of
things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth
I greet you with the resplendent and all-encompassing love
of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have a subject laid upon my heart, which I call us
to give thoughtful reflection today. It is about our reverence, or rather the
required reverence, for the divine name of Jesus, and the urgent need to not
use His name in vain.
The name of Jesus is not just an ordinary name; it is a
sacred emblem of God's love and salvation offered to all humankind. In the book
of Philippians, Paul reminds us that "God also has highly exalted Him
and given Him the name which is above every name" (Philippians 2:9).
The name of Jesus carries within it the power of the Almighty, the love of the Saviour,
and the promise of eternal life.
However, with heavy hearts, we witness the sacred name of
our Saviour being casually uttered, misused, and even disrespected in everyday
conversation. We hear it being invoked not in prayer or praise, but as an
expression of surprise, frustration, or even anger. This is a lamentable situation,
for the Bible clearly instructs us not to misuse the name of the Lord.
In Exodus 20:7, God commands, "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." This is not a casual recommendation; it
is one of the Ten Commandments, a divine decree commanding utmost respect and
reverence for the Lord's name.
My brethren, the name of Jesus is not a word to be tossed
around lightly. It is a name that healed the sick, raised the dead, made the
blind see, and set the captives free. This name is our fortress, our deliverer,
and our hope. It deserves our utmost respect, reverence, and honour.
We need to imbue our hearts by understanding that the name
of Jesus is holy. We must strive to use it with the respect and reverence it
deserves. Let it be spoken with love and adoration, not casually or disrespectfully.
Let us use it in our prayers, in our songs of praise, and when we share God's
love with others.
We must also encourage those around us to treat the name of
Jesus with the respect it deserves. This could be as simple as kindly
correcting someone when they use His name in vain, or gently reminding them
about the sacred nature of Jesus' name. Always do this with a loving heart of
patience and forgiveness.
Let us remember we are ambassadors of Christ. Our words,
actions, and attitudes should reflect our respect and love for Him. Let us aim
to fill our conversations with words that honour God rather than harm the
sanctity of His divine name.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before you with humble hearts. We ask for your forgiveness for the times we have used your sacred name in vain. Instil in us a greater reverence for your holy name. Let our tongues be instruments of your praise and let our words always bring glory to your name. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your love and mercy. We glorify and bless your magnificent name above all others! We pray in the sacred name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.