Isaiah the prophet was given an insight into the heart of God when he heard God’s anguished cry over the abuse of His name.

That’s the tragedy of our world. But God has an answer: “Therefore my people shall know my name” (52:6). Those who know and love the Lord are the guardians of His reputation on earth.

Honouring the Lord’s name is our highest calling. Christ will be honoured when the world sees a community of people who show awe and reverence for Him. That means growing in humility. We cannot draw attention to the greatness of God and to our own gifts or achievements at the same time.

Our calling is not to pretend that we have all the answers to life’s mysteries. We don’t. The secret things belong to the Lord; only the revealed things belong to us (Deut. 29:29). So, let’s not discredit the gospel by claiming more than God has promised or by declaring less than He has revealed.

Our calling is to share what God has given us in Christ and to invite people to the Scriptures, where they can consider the claims and the evidence of Jesus.

In this world, where God’s name is blasphemed every day, God is gathering communities of believers who love and worship the name of Jesus. As you grasp His love for you more deeply, you will grow in your love for Him. That will shape the way that you speak about Him, and people will begin to see that He is so much more than a name to you.

Can you think of a time when you heard a Christian speak about Jesus in a special way that intrigued or surprised you?

The first thing that typically comes to mind when we hear the third commandment is the issue of swearing. The way you use a person’s name says a great deal about what you think of them. And if you look up the name Jesus in your Concise Oxford English Dictionary, there are two definitions. Notice the order:

Jesus: (vulg.) excl. expr. surprise, impatience, etc. [name of founder of Christian religion d. c. A.D. 30]

The dictionary tells us that the name Jesus is a vulgarity. It is an exclamation expressing surprise, impatience, etc. That, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is its most common use. But the name Jesus can also be used to refer to the founder of Christianity.

It shouldn’t surprise us that those who don’t know the Lord commonly use the name of God or Jesus as an expletive. But the same pattern of speech is too often found among believers.

If you happen to be in school or at work, listen to how the name of God is used by your friends or coworkers this week. It will astonish you. Don’t copy that habit. It comes naturally for people who don’t know God. But not for you.

Reflect on how you are using God’s name. Have you spoken about Jesus in ways that dishonoured Him? How about in ways that honoured Him?

The reason God places such importance on not making idols is that He is jealous to guard against all images of Himself. Why? Because He wants nothing and no one to detract from the one true image of God by which He has made Himself known—Jesus Christ.

The New Testament says (about God) that Jesus is “the exact imprint of his nature” (Heb. 1:3). That is why Jesus could make this stunning statement: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).

The reason idols are so offensive to God is that the one and only invisible and incomparable God has taken on human flesh and entered into the world. God has made Himself known in the person of Jesus Christ.

That’s why you won’t find your way to God through an idol or through endless spiritual experiences. These are a labyrinth through which you will find no exit. But you can come to God through Jesus Christ. This one true, living, eternal God reaches out to you in Jesus Christ. And if you will embrace Him in Christ, He will embrace you. This is where eternal life begins.

Have you tried to find your way to God through some idol or through some spiritual experiences (other than through Jesus Christ)? What happened?