The Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries with Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour "Respecting the Name" for Tuesday, October 18, 2016

The Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries with Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour "Respecting the Name" for Tuesday, October 18, 2016

You shall not swear by My Name falsely, and so profane the Name of your God: I am the LORD.[Leviticus 19:12]
Years ago, I called on a demure, little, old lady just hours after she had undergone surgery.
That was a mistake, since she was still in that twilight which is often there when a person has not yet emerged from the anesthesia. The nurses warned me that I might want to come back later since the patient was "not quite herself." Since I knew her well, I ventured into post-op.
Well, my gentle grandma managed to open one eye and then, seeing me, she let loose with a string of foul language that would bring a blush to the cheeks of a drill sergeant. I slowly backed out, confident she wouldn't remember a word of what she had said.
And she didn't. No, she didn't remember a thing until one of the nurses told her how she had "cussed out the preacher." My lady was mortified and apologized in tears. I told her not to worry; it was the medication that had been talking, not her. Even so, it took a long time before she could look me in the eye without being embarrassed.
This takes me to the command: "Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain" (Exodus 20:7a).
All in all, that is a pretty simple command. And if you believe the Lord prioritized His directives by their significance, this -- the second of the Lord's Commandments -- must be very important to Him. I have always been amazed that a Command so significant to the Lord doesn't carry the same weight with His people.
It's true, you know Christians who would never think of stealing or committing adultery, believers who curb their tongue when it comes to the good name and reputation of their neighbors, have no qualms about misusing and abusing the Name of the Lord.
It bothers me that the people of Islam seem to hold the names of their prophet and their deity in higher regard than we regard our Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier. Now I am not suggesting we should condemn people to death for cursing as Pakistan has done to the Christian mother, Asia Bibi.
To do that would be to reject the freedom Christ has won for us.
Nor am I suggesting we should follow the example set in Nigeria where, this past June, a Christian pastor's wife was beaten to death by an Islamic mob after it had been rumored she had blasphemed Allah.
We dare not force a person to obey one Commandment, while we disobey another.
Far better for people of faith to take a good look at all the Lord has done and respond gratefully to His many kindnesses, His blood-bought forgiveness, and salvation. Far better to remember that if we don't show our respect for the Lord, we can't expect an unbeliever to do so either.
THE PRAYER: My Lord and my God, may all I do and say show my respect for You who have done all that was necessary to wash my soul from sin and grant me a place in the family of faith. This I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible in a Year Reading: Jeremiah 1-2; Acts 26
Jeremiah 1:1 These are the words of Yirmeyahu the son of Hilkiyahu, one of the cohanim living in ‘Anatot, in the territory of Binyamin. 2 The word of Adonai came to him during the days of Yoshiyahu the son of Amon, king of Y’hudah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 3 It also came during the days of Y’hoyakim the son of Yoshiyahu, king of Y’hudah, continuing until the eleventh year of Tzidkiyahu the son of Yoshiyahu, king of Y’hudah, right up until the time Yerushalayim was carried away captive, in the fifth month.

4 Here is the word of Adonai that came to me:

5 “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you;

before you were born, I separated you for myself.

I have appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.”

6 I said, “Oh, Adonai Elohim, I don’t even know how to speak! I’m just a child!” 7 But Adonai said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I’m just a child.’

“For you will go to whomever I send you,

and you will speak whatever I order you.

8 Do not be afraid of them,

for I am with you, says Adonai,

to rescue you.”

9 Then Adonai put out his hand and touched my mouth, and Adonai said to me,

“There! I have put my words in your mouth.

10 Today I have placed you over nations and kingdoms

to uproot and to tear down,

to destroy and to demolish,

to build and to plant.”

11 The word of Adonai came to me, asking, “Yirmeyahu, what do you see?” I answered, “I see a branch from an almond tree [Jeremiah 1:11 Hebrew: shaked]. 12 Then Adonai said to me, “You have seen well, because I am watching [Jeremiah 1:12 Hebrew: shoked] to fulfill my word.”

13 A second time the word of Adonai came to me, asking, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a caldron tilted away from the north, over a fire fanned by the wind.” 14 Then Adonai said to me, “From the north calamity will boil over onto everyone living in the land, 15 because I will summon all the families in the kingdoms of the north,” says Adonai,

“and they will come and sit, each one, on his throne

at the entrance to the gates of Yerushalayim,

opposite its walls, all the way around,

and opposite all the cities of Y’hudah.

16 I will pronounce my judgments against them

for all their wickedness in abandoning me,

offering incense to other gods

and worshipping what their own hands made.

17 “But you, dress for action; stand up and tell them

everything I order you to say.

When you confront them, don’t break down;

or I will break you down in front of them!

18 For today, you see, I have made you into

a fortified city, a pillar of iron,

a wall of bronze against the whole land —

against the kings of Y’hudah, against its princes,

against its cohanim and the people of the land.

19 They will fight against you,

but they will not overcome you,

for I am with you,” says Adonai,

“to rescue you.”

2:1 The word of Adonai came to me: 2 “Go and shout in the ears of Yerushalayim that this is what Adonai says:

‘I remember your devotion when you were young;

how, as a bride, you loved me;

how you followed me through the desert,

through a land not sown.

3 “‘Isra’el is set aside for Adonai,

the firstfruits of his harvest;

all who devour him will incur guilt;

evil will befall them,” says Adonai.

4 Hear the word of Adonai, house of Ya‘akov

and all families in the house of Isra’el;

5 here is what Adonai says:

“What did your ancestors find wrong with me

to make them go so far away from me,

to make them go after nothings

and become themselves nothings?

6 They didn’t ask, ‘Where is Adonai,

who brought us out of the land of Egypt,

who led us through the desert,

through a land of wastes and ravines,

through a land of drought and death-dark shadows,

through a land where no one travels

and where no one ever lived?’

7 I brought you into a fertile land

to enjoy its fruit and all its good things;

but when you entered, you defiled my land

and made my heritage loathsome.

8 The cohanim didn’t ask, ‘Where is Adonai?’

Those who deal with the Torah did not know me,

the people’s shepherds rebelled against me;

the prophets prophesied by Ba‘al

and went after things of no value.

9 “So again I state my case against you,” says Adonai,

“and state it against your grandchildren too.

10 Cross to the coasts of the Kitti’im and look;

send to Kedar and observe closely;

see if anything like this has happened before:

11 has a nation ever exchanged its gods

(and theirs are not gods at all!)?

Yet my people have exchanged their Glory

for something without value.

12 Be aghast at this, you heavens!

Shudder in absolute horror!” says Adonai.

13 “For my people have committed two evils:

they have abandoned me,

the fountain of living water,

and dug themselves cisterns, broken cisterns,

that can hold no water!

14 “Is Isra’el a slave, born into serfdom?

If not, why has he become plunder?

15 The young lions are roaring at him —

how loudly they are roaring!

They desolate his country,

demolishing and depopulating his cities.

16 The people of Nof and Tachpanches

feed on the crown of your head.

17 “Haven’t you brought this on yourself

by abandoning Adonai your God

when he led you along the way?

18 If you go to Egypt, what’s in it for you?

Drinking water from the Nile?

If you go to Ashur, what’s in it for you?

Drinking water from the [Euphrates] River?

19 Your own wickedness will correct you,

your own backslidings will convict you;

you will know and see how bad and bitter

it was to abandon Adonai your God,

and how fear of me is not in you,”

says Adonai Elohim-Tzva’ot.

20 “For long ago I broke your yoke;

when I snapped your chains, you said, ‘I won’t sin.’

Yet on every high hill, under every green tree,

you sprawled and prostituted yourself.

21 But I planted you as a choice vine

of seed fully tested and true.

How did you degenerate

into a wild vine for me?

22 Even if you scrub yourself

with soda and plenty of soap,

the stain of your guilt is still there before me,”

says Adonai Elohim.

23 “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled,

I have not pursued the ba‘alim’?

Look at your conduct in the valley,

understand what you have done.

You are a restive young female camel,

running here and there,

24 wild, accustomed to the desert,

sniffing the wind in her lust —

who can control her when she’s in heat?

Males seeking her need not weary themselves,

for at mating season they will find her.

25 “Stop before your shoes wear out,

and your throat is dry from thirst!

But you say, ‘No, it’s hopeless!

I love these strangers, and I’m going after them.’

26 Just as a thief is ashamed when caught,

so is the house of Isra’el ashamed —

they, their kings, their leaders,

their cohanim and their prophets,

27 who say to a log, ‘You are my father,’

and to a stone, ‘You gave us birth.’

For they have turned their backs to me

instead of their faces.

But when trouble comes, they will plead,

‘Rouse yourself and save us!’

28 Where are your gods that you made for yourselves?

Let them rouse themselves,

if they can save you when trouble comes.

Y’hudah, you have as many gods

as you have cities!

29 Why argue with me? You have all

rebelled against me!” says Adonai.

30 “In vain have I struck down your people.

They would not receive correction.

Your own sword has devoured your prophets

like a marauding lion.

31 You of this generation,

look at the word of Adonai:

Have I been a desert to Isra’el?

or a land of oppressive darkness?

Why do my people say, ‘We’re free to roam,

we will no longer come to you’?

32 Does a girl forget her jewellery,

or a bride her wedding sash?

Yet my people have forgotten me,

days beyond numbering.

33 You are so clever in your search for love

that the worst of women can learn from you!

34 Right there on your clothing

is the blood of the innocent poor,

although you never caught them breaking and entering.

Yet concerning all these things,

35 you say, ‘I am innocent;

surely he’s no longer angry at me.’

Here, I am passing sentence on you,

because you say, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’

36 You cheapen yourself

when you change course so often —

you will be disappointed by Egypt too,

just as you were disappointed by Ashur.

37 Yes, you will leave him too,

with your hands on your heads [in shame].

For Adonai rejects those in whom you trust;

from them you will gain nothing.”

Acts 26:1

 Agrippa said to Sha’ul, “You have permission to speak on your own behalf.” Then Sha’ul motioned with his hand and began his defense:

2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that it is before you today that I am defending myself against all the charges made against me by Jews, 3 because you are so well informed about all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.

4 “So then! All Jews know how I lived my life from my youth on, both in my own country and in Yerushalayim. 5 They have known me for a long time; and if they are willing, they can testify that I have followed the strictest party in our religion — that is, I have lived as a Parush. 6 How ironic it is that I stand on trial here because of my hope in the promise made to our fathers! 7 It is the fulfillment of this very promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they resolutely carry on their acts of worship night and day; yet it is in connection with this hope, your Majesty, that I am being accused by Jews! 8 Why do you people consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

9 “I used to think it was my duty to do all I could to combat the name of Yeshua from Natzeret; 10 and in Yerushalayim I did so. After receiving authority from the head cohanim, I myself threw many of God’s people in prison; when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Often I went from one synagogue to another, punishing them and trying to make them blaspheme; and in my wild fury against them, I even went so far as to persecute them in cities outside the country.

12 “On one such occasion, I was traveling to Dammesek with the full authority and power of the head cohanim. 13 I was on the road, and it was noon, your Majesty, when I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my traveling companions. 14 We all fell to the ground; and then I heard a voice saying to me, in Hebrew, ‘Sha’ul! Sha’ul! Why do you keep persecuting me? It’s hard on you to be kicking against the ox-goads!’ 15 I said, ‘Who are you, sir?’ and the Lord answered, ‘I am Yeshua, and you are persecuting me! 16 But get up, and stand on your feet! I have appeared to you to appoint you to serve and bear witness to what you have already seen of me, and to what you will see when I appear to you in the future. 17 I will deliver you from the People and from the Goyim. I am sending you 18 to open their eyes; so that they will turn from darkness to light, from the power of the Adversary to God, and thus receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who have been separated for holiness by putting their trust in me.’

19 “So, King Agrippa, I did not disobey the vision from heaven! 20 On the contrary, I announced first in Dammesek, then in Yerushalayim and throughout Y’hudah, and also to the Goyim, that they should turn from their sins to God and then do deeds consistent with that repentance. 21 It was because of these things that Jews seized me in the Temple and tried to kill me. 22 However, I have had God’s help; so to this day, I stand testifying to both small and great, saying nothing but what both the prophets and Moshe said would happen — 23 that the Messiah would die, and that he, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to both the People and the Goyim.”

24 But just as he reached this point in his defense, Festus shouted at the top of his voice, “Sha’ul, you’re out of your mind! So much learning is driving you crazy!”

25 But Sha’ul said, “No, I am not ‘crazy,’ Festus, your Excellency; on the contrary, I am speaking words of truth and sanity. 26 For the king understands these matters, so to him I express myself freely, because I am sure that none of these things have been hidden from him. After all, they didn’t happen in some back alley. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe!”

28 Agrippa said to Sha’ul, “In this short time, you’re trying to convince me to become Messianic?” 29 Sha’ul replied, “Whether it takes a short time or a long time, I wish to God that not only you, but also everyone hearing me today, might become just like me except for these chains!”

30 Then the king got up, and with him the governor and Bernice and the others sitting with them. 31 After they had left, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing that deserves either death or prison.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “If he hadn’t appealed to the Emperor, he could have been released.”

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