Monday, September 23, 2013 -- Speaking With Honour -- No More Cursing

What does speaking honourably have to do with recovery?  So what if I swear?  Everybody else tells off-colour jokes. To live in recovery is to live as respectful people, honouring God and those God loves.  How does my speech reflect this? 

Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.  Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored.  (Exodus 20:7, Matthew 6:9 NLT)

God’s name upholds His reputation and demonstrates His character in all that He says and does.  Every time we pray the Lord’s Prayer we are committing ourselves to upholding God’s name with reverence and using it with respect.  In the same way that we would not appreciate people saying or doing things in our name, which we personally don’t approve of, so we shouldn’t use God’s name to try and accomplish things He would not approve of.  So often we hear the phrase, "Oh for God's sake" when we simply don't like what someone has done or wish they would do something else.  There really isn't anything connected to a desire for God's will to be done in those matters so it doesn't ring true to use His name in that context.

The most common way people misuse God’s name is by swearing it in response to something that angers or irritates them, or, when something unexpected happens that startles them. We never hear people saying, "Oh Buddha" or "Oh Allah", or even "Oh Satan", yet so easily we put the name "Jesus Christ" on our lips when we are upset or startled. Many of us would rather not swear but we get careless and it’s out of our mouth before we even think about it. 

It's time to think before we speak, and to both think and speak with honour about the God who has rescued us in love, cared for us when we didn't even care for ourselves, and is committed to offer us salvation and eternal life in heaven.  Let the prayer of our heart be:  Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored on all our lips.  Help us today.

©2013 Partners in Hope