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In Leviticus 24:10–16, we read about an Israelite woman’s son who “blasphemed” the name of God—that is he cursed Him openly. The community was shocked by his irreverence and brought him to Moses for judgment. God instructed Moses to take the man outside the camp, where the entire community was to stone him. Moses relayed the Lord’s words:

“Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.” (Leviticus 24:16)

To a modern-day reader, this punishment seems extreme or even harsh. However, it highlights the seriousness of revering God’s name. When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He began with: “Hallowed be Your name” (Luke 11:2). In other words, God's name is to be treated as holy.

This passage also brings to mind Jesus’s warning in Mark 3:29 regarding the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Some today may struggle with the severity of these consequences, but Scripture consistently emphasizes how sacred and set apart God’s name truly is.

I was reminded of this truth early in my relationship with Karen. While we were dating, we agreed to uphold certain standards in our future home, including how we treated the Lord’s name. One evening, we went to see a James Bond movie, and as the film progressed, I became increasingly uncomfortable with how often the Lord’s name was taken in vain. Within the first half hour, I turned to Karen and asked if we could leave.

In my mind, during that half hour, I had a conversation with the Holy Spirit that went something like this:
“J, what would you do if you took Karen into a situation where people treated her poorly or cursed her because of the color of her skin?” My wife is Black, and at the time, we lived in the South, where biracial relationships were met with prejudice. I responded in my mind, “I’d get her out of there immediately and apologize for taking her into that situation.” Then the Holy Spirit asked, “Am I less important to you than the young lady sitting next to you? Are you really going to sit here while My name is profaned?”

That moment changed my perspective. Karen and I had a conversation afterward, and we decided to be much more selective about the movies we watched. When our kids were young, we leaned toward family-friendly films, but now, with our children grown, we rarely go to the theater at all.

One day, we all will all stand before God and give an account of our lives. I hope my actions show Him that there was no one more important than He.

Takeaway: How we treat God’s name reflects how we treat God Himself. Do your words and actions demonstrate that you honor and revere Him above all else?