Exodus 20:7
“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name”
A more literal translation from the word misuse would be the word worthlessness: to not use the name of the lord for worthlessness. This commandment reminds me of a story I heard many years ago about a girl from Uganda named Susan. She grew up in a Muslim household and one day someone came to speak at her school who shared the gospel. As she heard the message of salvation, she decided to follow Jesus as the savior of her life. But when her father found out she had left Islam, he got very angry. He beat her and told her to denounce Jesus, or he would kill her. She refused. Instead, he placed her in a small empty dark room where he placed a rug and told Suzan that if she were to get up from that rug, she would be denying Jesus. He closed the door and left her there for six months. She survived thanks to her brother who would dig the dirt of the bottom of the door by which he was able to give her water and fried bananas.
After six months the neighbors wonder what happened to Susan. Her brother told them what his dad had done so they called the police. When they open the door to the room, they found her sitting in the rug. She was malnourished and on the brink of death when they took her to the hospital. Once she recovered, they ask her why she did not attempt to escape. She said that her father told her that if she were to get up from that rug, she would be denying Jesus.
She could not do that; for Jesus had given her everything. How could she turn her back and deny him? All she said was that even if she died there, she knew that she would be with Jesus.
Do not use the name of the Lord for worthlessness. Susan at her young age knew of the worth the name of Jesus. His name is so precious that she was willing to give her life in that dark room for him.
We can get too caught up with the daily grind of our lives, that we may be guilty of using the name of the Lord for worthlessness. But thanks to Susan’s story we can be reminded of the beauty and wonder of Jesus; only his name has power to save those who are shackle by sin.
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” Acts 4:12.
My prayer this week is for all the new believers around the world who have decided to follow Jesus. Even though they may lose their earthly lives, they follow him because the promise of eternal life in him. They have put their trust in the name of Jesus, because his name is mighty to save. Father, protect them and guard them. Amen.
Pastor Luis loves missions and loves hearing stories like this one and how lives are transformed by the grace of God. It reminds him of the need and urgency to reach the nations for Christ and to not us the name of the Lord for worthlessness.