Feb 25 2026 … Misusing God’s Name …

Feb 25 2026 … Misusing God’s Name … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Brooke Ligerwood and Hillsong Worship singing What A Beautiful Name … Declaring that Jesus’ name is beautiful and should always be honored as the Name of God. 

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<b><u>Highlight Passage </u>: … Exodus 20:7 … [NLT] … </b> 

<i>    7 “You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse His name. </i>

… God’s pronouncement of prohibition to use His Holy Name in vain.

<b><u>Highlight Passage in Context:</u>  Exodus 20:1-4, 7-8, 12-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …</b> 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2020%3A1-4%2C%207-8%2C%2012-17&version=NLT

… God’s 10 commandments to Moses for God’s chosen people. 

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<b><u>Reference Passage:</u> … Leviticus 19:12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …</b> 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2019%3A12&version=NLT

… Moses repeats God’s prohibition of using God’s Name in vain.

<b><u>Reference Passage:</u> … Psalms 139:20 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …</b> 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%20139%3A20&version=NLT

… King David sings of God’s enemies misusing God’s Name. 

<b><u>Reference Passage:</u> … Malachi 3:16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …</b> 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi%203%3A16&version=NLT

… God’s prophet, Malachi, tells of God remembering and honoring those who speak to one another, esteeming the name of God.

<b><u>Reference Passage:</u> … Matthew 6:9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …</b> 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206%3A9&version=NLT

… Jesus, in His sermon on the mount, teaches His followers/disciples how to pray, beginning by honoring God’s Holy Name.

<b><u>Reference Passage:</u> … Matthew 12:36-37 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …</b> 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2012%3A36-37&version=NLT

… Jesus teaches truth to the Pharisees who were challenging his power, that at the judgment, any/all will be judged for the words they speak.

<b><u>Reference Passage:</u> … James 5:12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …</b> 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%205%3A12&version=NLT

… Jesus’ half-brother, James, teaches truth to fellow Christians about how we speak honoring God.  

<b><u>My Devotional Journal</u>:</b> Today’s Our Daily Bread from Mike Witmer …  <b>USE THS LNK</b> https://www.odbm.org/en/devotionals/devotional-category/abusing-gods-name?ts=1771977600000  … makes reference to a vintage photo from WW2  where a large banner above the Nazi headquarter read in German (and translated here in English), <b><i> “By resisting the Jew, I fight for the work of the Lord.”</b></i> The banner was a clear example of using God’s name in vain, as forbidden by God in the Highlight passage in the ODB entry today <b>(see photo)</b>.  And this is a command from God's covenant law to ALWAYS honor God's holy name.

And the question challenges us as God's chosen ones,  ... do we recoil when we hear God’s name used to dishonor our Lord or when others misuse or abuse the Name of God in some way?  I’m praying that we all revere and lift up the Name of “Jesus” or our “Holy God” in any way we refer to our Lord in public.   <u>God’s Name is HOLY</u>; and will you join me to use His Name to glorify our Lord … ALWAYS?!

<b><u>My Thanksgiving:</b></u> … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for calling me to revere and honor You always when I refer to Your Name in public.

<b><u>My Prayer Today</u>:</b> Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for commanding Your children to NEVER dishonor You by misusing Your Name. … Amen

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<span style="font-size: x-small;">[b]<u>Blogger Note</u>:[/b]  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you [b]GO TO THIS LINK[/b] - http://www.odb.org/ - on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site. </ span>

Feb 24 2026 … Missing His Divinity …

Feb 24 2026 … Missing His Divinity … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Justin Rizzo singing Word Made Flesh … Declaring Jesus to be God’s Word Made Flesh.

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Highlight Passage: … Isaiah 53:3 … [NLT] … 

3 He was despised and rejected — a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way.  He was despised, and we did not care.

… Isaiah’s prophetic words about the coming Messiah, who was to be rejected by man.

Highlight Passage in Context:  Isaiah 53:1-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Isaiah prophesies the coming of the Word made flesh, … The Christ, …  Who became our Messiah.  

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Reference Passage: … Exodus 3:14  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Moses instructed by God to tell the people in Egypt that “I am” had come to free God’s people.

Reference Passage: … John 1:14  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle John writes about God’s Word, made flesh in Jesus, as The Christ, … The Son of God.  

Reference Passage: … John 10:30 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus declares clearly that He and God, the Father, are one in the same.

Reference Passage:… 1Corinthians 8:6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth to fellow Christians about the essence of Jesus, … being The Christ, … the Son of God.

Reference Passage: … Colossians 2:9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul also teaches truth to fellow Christians about Jesus being The Christ.

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 1:3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… The Author of Hebrews teaches truth about Jesus being the essence of God … in the flesh.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Tim Gustafson …  USE THIS LINK   … wrote about how the people who lived in a small area of New England could see the life of a man, named George Chase, who lived in a small 12 foot shack in their area, and whom likely didn’t have a bathtub because the neighbors could smell that reality.  However, when a hurricane came through the area, several of the locals were sheltered and saved by George who opened his small abode to help his neighbors.  

Sometimes we judge others by superficial characteristics, …don’t we?  And that’s what happened when Jesus walked in Galilee before His death on a cross and His resurrection.   Now, at least some see the reality that Jesus was truly THE CHRIST, … God in the flesh, …Who died to save those who believe in Him as The Word, … i.e., the Son of God, … Who died and rose again to save any of my readers who know that Jesus was - AND IS - our Messiah and Lord.  I’m one of those!   Are you?

My Thanksgiving:… Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for being The Word made flesh, … my Messiah and Lord! 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for living and dying that those of us, who believe in You as The Son of God, will live with You forever. … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

Feb 23 2026 … Humble Leadership …

Feb 23 2026 … Humble Leadership … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...      and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Nichole Nordeman singing Legacy … calling on all Christians to leave a legacy of humbly leading others to follow Christ.

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Highlight Passage: … John 1:27 … [NLT] …  

27 Though His ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be His slave and untie the straps of His sandal.” 

… John, the Baptiser, shows his humble leadership, declaring his calling to lead others to the ministry of Jesus as The Messiah.

Highlight Passage in Context:  John 1:19-28 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus’ cousin, John, the Baptiser, declares that ALL should surrender their allegiance to Jesus as the Messiah and to follow Him as Lord.   

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Reference Passage: … Proverbs 11:2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon warns fellow believers against pride but to exercise humility ALWAYS.

Reference Passage: … Matthew 11:28-29 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Jesus calls His followers (i.e., disciples) to yoke themselves (ourselves) to Him and to follow His example of humility and meekness (i.e., “kindness”).  

Reference Passage: … Philippians 2:3-5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul calls on all fellow Christians to take on the attitude of Christ and to humbly follow Him as Lord.

Reference Passage: … Colossians 3:12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul also teaches truth on how to follow Jesus by humbly putting on His robes of righteousness. 

Reference Passage: … 2Timothy 2:24-25 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul teaches Timothy (and all followers of Christ) how to humbly lead others to Him as Lord.

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 5:6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Peter calls on fellow Christians to humble themselves (ourselves) so that God will lift them up by His power.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Lisa M Samra …  USE THIS LINK   … told of how she asked a friend, named Butch Briggs, who had been coaching the swim team from a local high school for over five decades, how many state titles he had won during his long career, … to which Butch responded,  “I’ve not won a single championship because I’ve never swum in a single race.”

And that’s the kind of humble leadership we’re called on to be, by God’s word (see Scriptures above), as followers of Christ, … i.e., to lead others, by following Christ’s example, … but leading others to Him rather than taking the credit.  As Nicole Nordeman sings in the linked song, it is our “LEGACY” to live like John, The Baptiser, … humbly pointing others to follow Jesus as their (our) Messiah and Lord.  And I ask myself EVERY DAY if that’s my legacy.   How about you?  

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for calling me to humbly lead others to You.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for calling all of us, who claim to be Your disciples, to humbly do all we can to lead others to You as our King of kings and Lord of lords. … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

Feb 22 2026 … Loving Like Jesus …

Feb 22 2026 … Loving Like Jesus … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Phil Wickham singing The Jesus Way … calling on all Christians to love others like Jesus loved us.

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Highlight Passage: … 1John 4:19 … [NLT] …  

19 We love each other because He loved us first. 

… John declares truth to fellow Christians about being able to love others the way Jesus loved them (us).

Highlight Passage in Context:  1John 4:16-21 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle John teaches fellow Christians that they (we) will love one another like Jesus first loves them (us).  

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Reference Passage: … John 3:16  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus shows Nicodemus how God would love all mankind by sacrificing His Son to save those who believed on Him as Messiah and Lord.

Reference Passage: … John 13:34-35 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus, teaches and commands His followers that loving one another displays who is really His disciples.  

Reference Passage: … Romans 5:8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth on how Jesus gave His life to love even sinners. 

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  God’s word, thru Paul, shows the essence of Christlike love to fellow Christians.

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 4:8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Peter calls on fellow Christians to show deep, Christlike, love for one another. 

Reference Passage: … 1John 4:7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… James, the half-brother of Jesus, teaches truth about God blessing those who’re tested because of their (our) faith.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Patricia Raybon …  USE THIS LINK   … related a true story about a young man, named Woody Cooper, who remained silent when a black girl, Dorothy Counts, was admitted to Woody’s high school.   Woody’s silent sin haunted him for over 40 years until he went to Dorothy to apologize later in life.  The two became close friends for years; and Dorothy even spoke at Woody’s funeral, detailing the friendship and love Woody had shown for her over the years.   

And if my readers have taken in the linked song and meditated on the scriptures above, I’m hoping that all of us have come to decide to love others the way that Jesus loved us; and how we should love others, with a Christlike …  sacrificial … love. That’s what I’ll try my best to do today … loving others the Jesus way!   How about you?  

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for showing me how to love others the way You loved us all.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for showing all of us how to love one another the way You loved us.  … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.