May 21st.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 10, 1 April 1916, Page 134

May 21st.

(Fourth Sunday after Easter.) Subject — THE LORD'S NAME. Scripture References : The Third Commandment, Philippians ii. 10. A NAME always suggests a THOUGHT. We read m the Bible of many men who were given special names to describe their characters or offices — Abraham, Israel, Samuel, Peter, and, above . all, Jesus. So whenever God's name is mentioned it should make us think of God's love and goodness. God is always present ; He hears all we say, sees all we do, and knows all our thoughts. We must always remember His presence ; if we do that we cannot speak His name without a thought of love

to Him. God was known to the' Jews by a name that no Jew dared to utter aloud : even when he wrote it he wrote only some of the letters : so greatly did God's chosen people reverence His name. How terrible must it be for a man to forget God so much that he can utter His Holy Name as if it were something common. It is hardly possible to believe but it is a fact that foul-mouthed men and even boys .use the name of our Lord Jesus Christ m such a way as to insult God to His face. To dp so is blasphemy, and is a terrible sin. When we say the name JESUS we should bow our heads So that we may be always reminded that He is our Saviour and King. We must reverence everything- upon which God has put His name : ( I ) Our bodies have been stamped with His name and sign or signature— His Name and His Cross. We should remember that He clairris them ; they are His ; we must keep them holy ; always pay respect to a dead body. (2) The Bible is a book ; it is filled with His name. Never use a Bible for any other purpose but its proper one. When a Bible is worn out do not tear it up and throw it about, but burn it so that its leaves may not be improperly used. (3) The Church is the place where God has set His name (see previous lesson). (4) Be very careful to keep your thoughts fixed on God when you say your prayers or sing hymns. It is dishonouring God's name to gab'fole on^'s prayers without thinking of Him and what the prayers mean. Study various names of God : Jehovah, The Lord, Jesus, Christ, The Comforter, The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Learn the Third Commandment; Lord's Prayer "Our Father . . Hallowed be Thy Name." Hymn 177, 11 Jesus, the very thought is sweet " ; 179, "To "the Name of our Salvation "