|
Listen to this devotional: |
Listen while you read: "We've A Story To Tell To The Nations"1 (Lyrics) |
Revelation 4:8b – Day and night they never stop singing: "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come." (GNT)
Only Almighty God, His Son our Lord Jesus Christ, His Holy Spirit, and all that is in heaven are holy. On earth, His people should act in ways that are holy and treat God with reverence and respect.
The use of the word "holy" as an interjection or exclamation of amazement has become fashionable. Hollywood is rife with it, and so it has spread everywhere. When the word "holy" is used in association with anything other than that which is of God, especially if it is obscene, disgusting, and filthy, it amounts to blasphemy!
I don't know who first started using the word "holy" in conjunction with filth, but I can be sure that its origin is purely satanic. Satan loves to get humans to blaspheme!
I cringe when I hear it, and if my friends and acquaintances use it, I explain to them that it is blasphemy and that they should stop doing so.
Furthermore, so is senselessly uttering the name of God. What this means is that if we utter the words, "Oh, my God" or "Oh, my Jesus," we should be addressing God directly in prayer. If not, we are seriously offending God. He cared about it enough to make it the third commandment:
Exodus 20:7 – Do not use my name for evil purposes, for I, the Lord your God, will punish anyone who misuses my name. (GNT)
Imagine if someone repeatedly called your name, and each time you answered, they replied, "Sorry, I wasn't really talking to you." Perhaps these same people wonder why God does not answer them when they pray!
It is the duty of those reading this devotional to do their best — starting with themselves, their families, and friends — to stop this practice.
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, we are guilty, and we are sorry for the way that we abuse Your most holy name. Please grant that we may never do this, and give us the courage to speak to and correct others when they blaspheme You. We ask this in the most holy name of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Forward this devotional Share this devotional on Facebook Like PresbyCan on Facebook
Although PresbyCan doesn't have a mobile app, you can still have a PresbyCan icon on your mobile phone home screen. 
Amen Ken.
Thanks, Ken for good advice.
So true!! Thanks for the reminder.
Thank you, Kenneth, for this insightful devotional.
Beautiful devotional. I pray it will speak to many hears today. God bless you.
You are right, Kenneth. Thank you.
(Texas)
Thank you, Kenneth.
A wonderful reminder to all of us.
Thank you, Ken, for your direct, powerful, and thoughtful reminder to honor our Lord and Savior according to the third commandment.
What a well written message!
I too cringe when hearing our Lord’s name used flippantly! May I have the courage to speak up as you have urged us to do!
Hello Kenneth,
Many thanks for your devotional this morning reminding us how important it is to guard our tongue from hurtful words. Our loving Lord deserves praise and honour at all times and His name must not be used in vain. Blessings for your very mindful writing.
Hello Kenneth. Thank you for your devotional.
A few years ago, I preached a sermon on “Living Christianly in an OMG world.”
I totally share your perspective.
Blessings on your efforts.
For this comment on speech that has become so commonplace, but still makes me cringe. Younger and younger voices are heard, they are obviously ignorant of the meaning, as you say!
Bless you for your courage in standing up for your beliefs!
(BC)
Hi Kenneth,
I totally agree with you. I am so upset when I keep hearing people say, “Oh my God”.
I am so thankful that my teenage grandchildren don’t talk like this.
Thank you for your message.
(BC)
Hi
Thanks.
I encourage you to go farther: we misuse God’s name when we abuse His creation and when we treat God’s creatures badly.
That is actually worse than the bad language.
Worth a thought.
Dear Kenneth,
This was an excellent reminder to be careful how we use the Lord’s name. I also cringe when I hear the OMG expression, which is so commonplace today. My late husband would have fully agreed with your comment about the flippant use of the word “holy” as well. He was deeply troubled one day to hear “holy cow!” used as a lighthearted expression — from the pulpit!
Dear Kenneth,
A great reminder of what God expects from us and others. Things become habits easily if we don’t take note of what we are saying. Thank you for encouraging us to be better. It is true that first we have to start with ourselves. As I pray your prayer today, the Holy Spirit will help me to think before I speak and to listen to what others are saying so I can speak. May God bless you today.
Thank you, Kenneth, for saying what I also believe, so clearly. I have tried to teach this to my family as well. When words such as these are so prevalent in our society, it is especially difficult for our children. I’ve often heard my young grandchildren say, ‘O my God’ and then catch themselves, (even without a look from me), and say ‘Gosh’. Your suggestion that it is actually calling God’s name without wanting to speak to him, is another tool that I can use when trying to influence their speech. Thank you.
Hi Ken
Thank you for this devotional. This is a subject that truly bothers me when I hear the Lord’s name used in vain, especially right in church by church people. I don’t understand why this is not addressed more often and emphatically in sermons or Bible studies.
I confess I am not good at calling people on it even though it irritates me. I must find a way of doing so kindly but let them understand it offends God.
Thank you and blessings.
Thank you for sharing this devotional reminder to guard our speech!
Blessings.
Thank you for a very timely and relevant devotional. It was a blessing for me. I pray that we will do better and honour the Name of our Holy God.
Hi Ken,
I can understand your feeling about using words relating to God in a casual way.
I also thought calling out “oh God” was bad until I read a testimony of a man in jail. He thought he’d never get out because of him crime and one day he dropped to his knees … not in prayer … but in despair. I don’t believe he was calling out to God, but he did cry out “oh god help me”. He wasn’t a religious person and wasn’t praying for help from God but suddenly a change overcame him. At that moment he felt God helping him and he turned his life around, became a Christian and started a Christian ministry for prisoners.
Amen to your Message Ken! I agree, and I also stand guilty and was corrected by my three-year-old Granddaughter, after I said OMG about something. Later, I heard her correct herself and say – “No! Me no say OMG!”
Out of the mouth of babes!