Week 6 - Monday

Dishonoring God

You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? For "the Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you," just as it is written. (Romans 2:23-24)

Many of the scribes and Pharisees were guilty of openly disobeying God's Law. Because of their disobedience, the things they tried to teach the people, often had little effect. Another negative result of their disobedience was that it caused the Name of God to be blasphemed by the Gentiles. When the unbelieving Gentiles saw the Jewish religious leaders blatantly breaking the Law, it gave them an opportunity to discredit their God. They would think, "how could a God who allowed His people to be so sinful, be holy Himself?" Seeing no reason to fear or believe in the God of the Jews, the Gentiles would have contempt His name. The scribes and Pharisees who were guilty of disobeying God, had only the writings of the Old Testament to teach them. Now, through the writings of the New Testament, God has given us much more knowledge than they ever had. As Christians too, we have a much greater ability to obey God than they had because we have the Holy Spirit living in us. Believers haven't always had God's Spirit living in them though. In the Old Testament there were times when God's Spirit would come to people and strengthen or inspire them, but it was never permanent. The Holy Spirit did not come and permanently live in believers until after Jesus died, was raised, and ascended back to heaven (John 16:7, 7:39).

Whenever anyone sins it dishonors God. But the sins of those who claim to believe in God, dishonor Him the most. The Jews that Paul criticized for bringing disgrace to God, did not have the New Testament to teach them or the Holy Spirit living in them. If their sins dishonored God, how much more do our sins dishonor Him? What do unbelievers think about God when they see us sinning? Why should they think they would have to turn from their sins to receive Christ, when they think that those who already believe in Him do not? When we who claim to be Christians, continue to sin, our testimony to others is ruined and God's holy name is blasphemed. He is scorned in the minds of unbelieving people as an unworthy God, because of our sinful behavior. God has great concern for His Name. He wants it to be treated with reverence and respect. He does not appreciate it being blasphemed. God sometimes severely punishes people for bringing dishonor to Him. Your sins have brought dishonor to God. Think about that. Ask God to forgive you. Try to be more obedient to Him from now on, for the sake of His holy Name.

Reading for today: Ezek. 36:18-23; 2 Sam. 12:13-14; Isa. 48:10-11; Psalm 51:1-4