OMG... what's the problem?

       It’s everywhere – the term “OMG”.     It’s in magazines, movies, on television, Facebook,  Twitter, blogs…yes, Christian ones, at Christian conferences... So what’s the problem with the term “OMG”? In Exodus 20, God gave us the ten commandments. The first 4 commandments refer to our relationship with God:

1.)  You shall have no other gods before Me.
2.)  You shall not make idols.
3.)  You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
4.)  Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

The next 6 commandments refer to our relationship with each other:

5.)  Honor your father and your mother.
6.)  You shall not murder.
7.)  You shall not commit adultery.
8.)  You shall not steal.
9.)  You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10.)  You shall not covet.

If we turn back to Exodus 19, we see these 10 commandments came to Moses in the midst of thunder, lightening, fire, a thick cloud of smoke and trumpet blasts!  All the people in the camp trembled at the glory of God! This God, who is flippantly referred to in the “OMG” phrase, who came down in thunder, lightening, fire, a thick cloud of smoke and trumpet blasts…the One that the Israelietes trembled at, the One who sent the 10 plagues and the One who parted the red sea – the Great I AM….has commanded, we do not take HIS name –in vain.     The third commandment says: “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

Vain means…having no real substance, value, importance, empty, void, and worthless.

     To use God or Jesus Christ’s name in vain, is to empty the significance of His name and take away from His glory.

If we use God’s name, in a way that is not in reverence or holiness, we are breaking this command.  Yet, today we see and hear it everywhere.  Often times, it goes hand in hand with other profanity.

I do not believe we should be the “OMG” police or  go around correcting other’s speech.  But rather Jesus says, “You are the light of the world.”  As lights, our speech should look different.

Because we are children of God, we understand the power of God’s name!

Jesus told us when we pray, pray like this: “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

     Hallowed…or holy is His name!

     And Jesus says in John 14:14,“If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

There is power in the name of Jesus!  His name is higher than any other! We see at the end of the command a consequence: “the Lord will not hold guiltless who takes his name in vain.”

In Romans 3:20, we see that it is through the law, that we come to the knowledge of our sin. When we review the 10 commandments, we see that we are guilty of breaking at least one and therefore in need of a Savior.

Jesus fulfilled the law and paid the penalty for all of our sin. When we place our faith in Him we are declared righteous by the blood of the lamb.  (Hallelujah!) We are under grace but not so sin may abound.  We do not live by lists and rules and legalism.  We live by love.  Jesus said the greatest commandment is that we love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength and if we love Him, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15).

David said it best in Psalm 145:1 “I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.”

Let’s put an end to the vanity and profanity of God’s name and lift His name in reverence and awe…forever. Obey the 3rd commandment…and teach your children to obey it as well.

Taken from: http://womenlivingwell.org/2015/01/the-problem-with-omg/