6th March 2025

6th March 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Exodus 20v7)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


As always the Larger Catechism disabuses us of any notion that we can keep God's law perfectly. You and I may never swear using the Lord's name but there is much more required than that. What else? "The third commandment requires, that the name of God, his titles, attributes, ordinances, the word, sacraments, prayer, oaths, vows, lots, his works, and whatsoever else there is whereby he makes himself known, be holily and reverently used in thought, meditation, word, and writing; by an holy profession, and answerable conversation, to the glory of God, and the good of ourselves and others."


Amazingly, the third commandment makes demands of our thoughts, words and writing. In other words we don't just take the Lord's name in vain with our lips. Imagine the man who writes a book denouncing the Gospel and calling Jesus wicked. Consider the woman who says she loves the Lord but quietly thinks the exact opposite. Ponder the individual who calls the Lord's Supper "superstitious nonsense". These three imaginary people are united by the fact that they have taken the Lord's name in vain - in writing, in thought and in spoken word.


How then should we speak, think and write about the Lord? For God's glory and the good of ourselves and others, we are to speak of God by holy profession and answerable conversation. In simple terms, the majesty of God's name is to have an impact in every area of our lives. When we open our mouths to speak of the Lord we should do so with a holy fear, as we sit pondering the things of God we should leave no room for contempt to slip into our thought life and when we gather to worship Christ on the Lord's Day we should not treat God's ordinances as if they empty dead rituals.


As I write this devotion I am struck by how far short I fall. My words are not always God honouring and that's before I turn to my thoughts or written words. Even at my best I am an unprofitable servant and I know all too well that my words about the Lord have often been desperately unprofitable. Brothers and sisters, if you feel the weight of this particular failure let us run to Christ praying together "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." (Psalm 19v14).  


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q24 How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet? Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.
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