August 29 - oath

August 29 - Oath 

There is a name that God gives himself in Exodus 34:6-7. Yes, it is two verses long, that’s how incredibly long it is. This is because he gives Moses the name that completely describes the attributes of who he is. It goes like this. 

Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, The LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” 

Wow, what a long name. 

Inside of this, God is trying to show Moses what makes him who he really is. He is the LORD! Which means he stands for something specific. He is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, forgiving, and yet just. This name helped Moses and the Israelites, because this was the name they were going to be known by as well. They were to represent God to the nations so that there was a difference that was visible and able for people to follow. 

And this is the same calling that God has on us today if we say we are followers of Christ. We represent his name. This is why it is so important for us to study and apprentice Jesus. We must become people who look, talk, and act like him. It’s why Jesus said that the way people will know we are his disciples is by the way we love. The love of Jesus was so revolutionary and profound, that it was countercultural in ever way possible. 

So God called Moses and the people to represent the name of God - yes, that long 2 sentence name full of mercy and grace. And Jesus as well calls us the same way. We are to represent him by carrying on the attributes of the Loving savior. 

This is where Jesus comes from as he continues on in the sermon on the mount. Listen starting in vs. 33

Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the LORD the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swap by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. 

Jesus is saying, represent him well. And the only way to do this is by making sure you live out and illustrate what it looks like to be in the presence of the living God. Be honest, and true. Live a life of integrity. Because when you don’t, it actually hurts the name of God. You don’t represent heaven well, you don’t represent God’s people well, and you sure don’t represent what it would be like to be surrounded by God’s goodness. 

You are a walking representation of the living God. What you do matters ALL THE TIME!

So do what you say, and honor God in how you live. 

I would love you to stop and wrestle with this a bit. 

Where do you live in a way that is in opposition with the teachings and lifestyle of Jesus? Because when you live that way, you hurt the name of Jesus. And, Jesus describes this as coming from evil. So it would do you good to figure out how you can actually do this differently. 

What area in your life is opposing the teachings of Jesus. 

Find that out, and correct it, so you can represent his name well.

And again, when you focus on the beginning of this sermon - the section known as the beatitudes, it’s actually pretty hard to live a life of sin while committing to being that type of person. So go back and reread that list. Then commit to living the life God has called you to as you become who he designed you to be. 

And in the mean time, I love you, and as you represent Christ well and live out the image of the living Heavenly Father, May God bless you!