Being With Jesus People – Third Commandment

Being with Jesus’ People

The third commandment

Exodus 20.4, 7; Deuteronomy 5.11

“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.”

Song 1.7

Tell my, you whom my soul loves, where you pasture your flock, where you make it lie down at noon; for why should I be like one who veils herself beside the flocks of your companions?

Our brothers and sisters share His Name as well.

The Church is the community of God’s people, all who, by profession of faith in Jesus Christ, have been adopted into the family of God (Jn. 1.12). The Church is also the Bride of Christ, as we have been arguing all week. We have more in common with every follower of Jesus than we do with our closest friends or family members who do not know the Lord. Our bearing of the Name of Jesus can be strengthened by meeting regularly with His people, entering into their walk with the Lord, sharing in their gifts and fellowship, and laboring together in the worship and work of the Lord. We can be a source of strength to them as well, so that they do not take the Lord’s Name in vain. The Church is more important than we know, and each of us has important work to do in helping the Bride of Christ grow to her full stature of loveliness and grace (Eph. 4.11-16). Church is not just some place to go. It’s who we are – the Bride and Body of Christ. And it’s more than our own congregation as well. We’re part of the every other true believer, throughout our community, around the world, and from every time and culture. What a glorious reality to celebrate and indulge!

In what ways do your church help you in taking the Lord’s Name as you should? How do you help your fellow church members do the same?

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“In the Gates” is a devotional series on the Law of God by Rev. T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is editor of the Worldview Church. He serves as dean of the Centurions Program of the Wilberforce Forum and principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He is the author or editor of twenty books, and has contributed chapters to four others. His essays, reviews, articles, papers, and poetry have appeared in dozens of national and international journals, and on a wide range of websites. His most recent books are The Ailbe Psalter and The Ground for Christian Ethics (Waxed Tablet).

Scripture quotations in this article are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (c) copyright 2001,2007 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Editor’s note: The use of a translation other than the Authorised Version in an article does not constitute an endorsement in whole or in part by The Christian Observer.