In its broadest sense, “not taking the Lord’s name in vain”, as stated in the third commandment, means behaving in life congruently with how God says we are to live as Christians. There is a personal integrity that comes with doing what we say we will do. Additionally, there is a spiritual integrity that occurs when we live in line with God’s direction for our lives. If we profess to follow Christ, our decisions, actions, habits, and behaviors should reflect Him.
We violate this commandment when we act one way on Sunday morning and a different way the other six days of the week. Any inconsistency between what we profess and how we act will lead to a compromise in our witness to others and a detriment to raising our kids in the faith.
I can confess to acting inappropriately at sporting events in our community. People in our area do not see me as a coach, a parent, or a fan…they see me as a Christian and a pastor at Cypress Creek Church. I can only imagine the confusion the enemy sows in others’ minds when I do not act consistently with what I teach on Sunday.
Similarly, my children learn more from my actions than from my words. I damage their understanding of God when I behave outside His instruction for my life.
How about you? Would you say that your day-to-day decisions and behaviors reflect your faith in Jesus and your obedience to God’s word? Is there an area that just came to mind where you are living incongruently…impacting your witness to others or your influence on your children? Pray and begin to make the needed changes.
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Psalm 32:8