How can Christians today avoid profaning God's name in their daily lives? Setting the scene Ezekiel 36 describes Israel’s exile for persistent rebellion. Verse 20 reports, “Wherever they went among the nations, they profaned My holy name, for it was said of them, ‘These are the people of the LORD, yet they had to leave His land.’” The nations saw the covenant people scattered and concluded that Israel’s God was either weak or unworthy of obedience—His name was dragged through the mud by the very ones who bore it. What it means to profane God’s name • Treating the Lord’s character as ordinary, common, or unreliable • Living in a way that contradicts the holiness attached to His name • Causing unbelievers to associate God with hypocrisy or irreverence Remember Exodus 20:7: “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain…”. The command reaches far beyond swearing; it covers anything that empties His name of its weight. How believers today keep from profaning His name Speech • Guard everyday language—avoid crude jokes, flippant “God” references, or careless promises (James 5:12) • Speak the truth even when costly; lies cast doubt on the God of truth Character • Practice visible integrity at work and home. “Let your light shine before men…that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) • Maintain faithfulness in marriage and family; unfaithfulness shouts that God cannot satisfy Worship • Engage wholeheartedly in gathered worship—sing, pray, listen, give. Hollow routines communicate that God is boring • Reject syncretism; mixing worldly ideologies with biblical truth muddies the name that is above every name Dependence • Turn anxieties into prayer rather than panic. Trust under trial proclaims, “God is sufficient.” (Philippians 4:6-7) • Celebrate answered prayer publicly so others link goodness directly to Him Witness • Share the gospel accurately; misrepresenting Christ distorts His name • Live consistently so that coworkers, neighbors, and relatives see a credible messenger (1 Peter 2:12) Scriptures that reinforce holy living • Colossians 3:17—“Whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” • 2 Timothy 2:19—“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.” • Psalm 115:1—“Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name be the glory…” Daily self-check • Did my words today elevate or cheapen God’s reputation? • Did my decisions align with His revealed will? • Did my reactions to stress showcase trust or unbelief? • Would observers sense that my God is worthy of honor? Walking worthy of His name Ezekiel’s warning remains relevant: the world still watches believers to form conclusions about God. When our speech, conduct, and attitudes echo His holiness, we honor the name we carry and invite others to glorify Him as well. |
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