Saint Louis, Missouri, United States - Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour "God's Name" Wednesday, 28 May 2014

Saint Louis, Missouri, United States - Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour "God's Name" Wednesday, 28 May 2014 
(God said) "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."(Exodus 20:7)
The owner of the L.A. Clippers, Donald Sterling, has a big mouth; 
he also has a foul and prejudiced mouth. 
Last month Mr. Sterling made some remarks that were profane and racist. If that were not enough, he gave an interview to CNN, which was racially prejudiced.
Now the National Basketball Association (NBA) has decided Mr. Sterling has damaged its desire to be diverse and inclusive. His language has damaged "the NBA's relationship with its fans; harmed NBA owners, players, and Clippers team personnel; and impaired the NBA's relationship with marketing and merchandising partners, as well as with government and community leaders ...."
Because of his mouth, here are the penalties which are being -- or have been -- proposed for Mr. Sterling:
1. The NBA has given him a $2.5 million fine.
2. He has been banned for life from attendance at the games.
3. Other team owners are being asked to vote and force Mr. Sterling to sell his team.
Apparently, the NBA is pretty serious when it comes to sins of the tongue. It believes a person's words ought to be a positive reflection on the things he is supposed to be supporting and holding dear.
The Lord agrees.
Maybe that's why the Lord, when He was having Moses write down the Ten Commandments, gave a very high position to His Law, which said, "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."
Although the Lord doesn't go into detail, it is reasonable to think we would speak honorably and respectfully of the Creator who has given us all we have, the Redeemer who offered and gave His life as the ransom price to save us, and the Comforter who has called and kept us in the saving faith.
Yes, it would be both reasonable and right for us to hold the Lord and His divine Names in high regard, which is why it must pain Him to hear just how often some of God's people use His Names foolishly, frivolously, flippantly and wrongly. The Lord's Names should not be used for punctuation or for calling down divine wrath on any inconsequential inconvenience.
No, as people who have been saved by God's grace, the Savior's sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit's ongoing intervention, we ought always, as Luther said, "to thank and praise to serve and obey Him," which would be, of course, most certainly true.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, the world, not knowing what You have done to try and save them, holds Your Name in disregard. May it be a 
singular mark of my language that all who hear me will know I am eternally grateful for Your graces and ongoing direction in my life. This I ask in the Savior's Name. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus 
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
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Through the Bible in a Year
Today Read:
Psalms 24: A Psalm by David.
1 The earth is Yahweh’s, with its fullness;
    the world, and those who dwell therein.
2 For he has founded it on the seas,
    and established it on the floods.
3 Who may ascend to Yahweh’s hill?
    Who may stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart;
    who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood,
    and has not sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive a blessing from Yahweh,
    righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of those who seek Him,
    who seek your face—even Jacob.
Selah.
7 Lift up your heads, you gates!
    Be lifted up, you everlasting doors,
    and the King of glory will come in.
8 Who is the King of glory?
    Yahweh strong and mighty,
    Yahweh mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, you gates;
    yes, lift them up, you everlasting doors,
    and the King of glory will come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
    Yahweh of Armies is the King of glory!
Selah.
25: By David.
1 To you, Yahweh, do I lift up my soul.
2 My God, I have trusted in you.
    Don’t let me be shamed.
    Don’t let my enemies triumph over me.
3 Yes, no one who waits for you shall be shamed.
    They shall be shamed who deal treacherously without cause.
4 Show me your ways, Yahweh.
    Teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth, and teach me,
    For you are the God of my salvation,
    I wait for you all day long.
6 Yahweh, remember your tender mercies and your loving kindness,
    for they are from old times.
7 Don’t remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions.
    Remember me according to your loving kindness,
    for your goodness’ sake, Yahweh.
8 Good and upright is Yahweh,
    therefore he will instruct sinners in the way.
9 He will guide the humble in justice.
    He will teach the humble his way.
10 All the paths of Yahweh are loving kindness and truth
    to such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11 For your name’s sake, Yahweh,
    pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
12 What man is he who fears Yahweh?
    He shall instruct him in the way that he shall choose.
13 His soul shall dwell at ease.
    His offspring[a] shall inherit the land.
14 The friendship of Yahweh is with those who fear him.
    He will show them his covenant.
15 My eyes are ever on Yahweh,
    for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn to me, and have mercy on me,
    for I am desolate and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged.
    Oh bring me out of my distresses.
18 Consider my affliction and my travail.
    Forgive all my sins.
19 Consider my enemies, for they are many.
    They hate me with cruel hatred.
20 Oh keep my soul, and deliver me.
    Let me not be disappointed, for I take refuge in you.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
    for I wait for you.
22 Redeem Israel, God,
    out all of his troubles.
26: By David.
1 Judge me, Yahweh, for I have walked in my integrity.
    I have trusted also in Yahweh without wavering.
2 Examine me, Yahweh, and prove me.
    Try my heart and my mind.
3 For your loving kindness is before my eyes.
    I have walked in your truth.
4 I have not sat with deceitful men,
    neither will I go in with hypocrites.
5 I hate the assembly of evildoers,
    and will not sit with the wicked.
6 I will wash my hands in innocence,
    so I will go about your altar, Yahweh;
7     that I may make the voice of thanksgiving to be heard,
    and tell of all your wondrous deeds.
8 Yahweh, I love the habitation of your house,
    the place where your glory dwells.
9 Don’t gather my soul with sinners,
    nor my life with bloodthirsty men;
10     in whose hands is wickedness,
    their right hand is full of bribes.
11 But as for me, I will walk in my integrity.
    Redeem me, and be merciful to me.
12 My foot stands in an even place.
    In the congregations I will bless Yahweh.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 25:13 or, seed
John 10:22 It was the Feast of the Dedication[a] at Jerusalem. 23 It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. 24 The Jews therefore came around him and said to him, “How long will you hold us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you don’t believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, these testify about me. 26 But you don’t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
31 Therefore Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?”
33 The Jews answered him, “We don’t stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy: because you, being a man, make yourself God.”
34 Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods?’[b] 35 If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture can’t be broken), 36 do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God?’ 37 If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me. 38 But if I do them, though you don’t believe me, believe the works; that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”
39 They sought again to seize him, and he went out of their hand. 40 He went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was baptizing at first, and there he stayed. 41 Many came to him. They said, “John indeed did no sign, but everything that John said about this man is true.” 42 Many believed in him there.
Footnotes:
a. John 10:22 The “Feast of the Dedication” is the Greek name for “Hanukkah”, a celebration of the rededication of the Temple.
b. John 10:34 Psalm 82:6
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