The Small Catechism – part 41
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 4:23
Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Click for a recording of today's lesson.
From the Confessions: The Small Catechism, The Second Commandment
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain (for the Lord will not hold guiltless those who take his name in vain).
What does this mean?
Answer: We should fear and love God so that we do not use his name superstitiously or to curse, swear, lie, or deceive, but call upon him in every time of need, and worship him with prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.
Pulling It Together: Worship is always the correct attitude. If your conscience, the law, or the devil accuse you of sin, the right response is worship. Do not hide from God, as if you could. Instead, come directly into his presence, confessing and giving thanks. If you take his name in vain or conversely, do not wrongly use his name, call upon his name nonetheless. Do not wait for Sunday, or physically being in a church building. Now is the time for you to come to the Father, doing so in spirit and truth. Every need you have, whether of forgiveness or something else, is an occasion to worship the Father in prayer, praising him and giving thanks for his meeting your every necessity.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your mercy and love. Amen.
Click here for resources to learn the Ten Commandments.
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Rev. Dr. Mark E. Ryman has served as Pastor for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC, since 2021. Previously, Pastor Ryman served congregations in North Carolina and Ohio, as well as a call to specialized ministry with Sola Publishing.
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