This word is submitted by Ray Puen (raypuen@earthlink.net)

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Reverence My Name

What does it mean to take My name in vain?

My bride, you take my name when you renounce the world and become mine. As a bride sheds her name and takes her husband's name, so you have taken My name when you turned away from the world and became "Christian." You took My name.

But I grieve that some of you have taken My name in vain. In vain have you taken the name "Christian" when you fail to walk in My ways. In vain have you taken My name when your lifestyle mirrors the world's.

My ways are pure and holy. So must yours be. My nature is gracious and merciful and longsuffering. So should yours be.

When Moses asked to see My glory, I told him I would proclaim My name before him and say, "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." Then I passed before him and proclaimed My name, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth...." These are My attributes. My name is My glory, and My glory is my attributes. If you take My name, you must not take it vainly, that is, to no effect.

So take My name and demonstrate to all the world that you are Mine - by being pure and holy, gracious, compassionate, merciful, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth.