Our mission is to be partnering with God to make sure that on earth РІР‚вЂњ just as it is in heaven РІР‚вЂњ His name is hallowed, His rule and reign is established, and His will is done. I hope it doesnРІР‚в„ўt sound like IРІР‚в„ўm overstating my case, but IРІР‚в„ўm afraid that when a Christian says, РІР‚СљOh my GodРІР‚Сњ or РІР‚СљOMG,РІР‚Сњ he or she is subtly undermining the Christian mission. Therefore, we must live and speak of Him in such a way that His name (His reputation) is РІР‚Сљhallowed.РІР‚Сњ People draw conclusions about who God is and what He is all about by watching us and listening to us talk about Him. GodРІР‚в„ўs covenant people need to live to spread His fame and good reputation across the globe. GodРІР‚в„ўs РІР‚СљnameРІР‚Сњ is not just the specific word, РІР‚СљYHWH.РІР‚Сњ It is His reputation. That needs to be the prayer and the longing of every disciple of Jesus. In other words, we need to pray that GodРІР‚в„ўs name is revered and respected across the globe. Jesus literally says, РІР‚СљOur Father in heaven, let your name be hallowed, let your kingdom come, let your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.РІР‚Сњ Jesus is telling His disciples to pray that our FatherРІР‚в„ўs name be РІР‚СљhallowedРІР‚Сњ on earth as it is in heaven. A retired Bible professor, and good friend of mine, recently brought to my attention that there are actually three requests here, though it is hard to recognize them in English. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heavenРІР‚Сњ (Matthew 6:9-10). Jesus taught His disciples to pray, saying, РІР‚СљOur Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

The Gentiles whoРІР‚в„ўve come into His family, through faith in Jesus Christ, ought to be careful we do not misuse His name. God expected His covenant people to refer to Him РІР‚вЂњ either directly or indirectly РІР‚вЂњ with reverence and respect. Jesus rebuked this practice and told them if they swore falsely by heaven, they had still used GodРІР‚в„ўs name in vain becauseР’В heaven РІР‚Сљis the throne of GodРІР‚Сњ (Matthew 5:34). And when they swore an oath, they would swear by the temple or by heaven or by some other thing, in order to not swear falsely by GodРІР‚в„ўs name. In order to avoid breaking this commandment, pious Jews in the time of Jesus would not speak of God directly at all. They especially were forbidden from using GodРІР‚в„ўs name to give false testimony or swear an oath they would not fulfill. They understood that anytime they referred to their God, they were commanded to do so with reverence and respect. Though РІР‚СљYHWHРІР‚Сњ is the most specific way the Israelites could refer to God, it was not the only way. He had revealed His name to them, РІР‚СљYHWH.РІР‚Сњ He had revealed Himself to them through the covenant. To Israel, God wasnРІР‚в„ўt just a generic or impersonal god. In the Ten Commandments, God commanded Israel, РІР‚СљYou shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vainРІР‚Сњ (Exodus 20:7). Not to mention the popular abbreviation, РІР‚СљOMG.РІР‚Сњ So, is this practice wrong? What does the Bible say about this? But countless people (including many Christians) use this phrase as an exclamation of surprise or disbelief. To be honest, I feel even a little bit guilty typing the words, РІР‚СљOh my God.РІР‚Сњ Of course, it is certainly not wrong to use the phrase РІР‚СљOh my GodРІР‚Сњ when you are actually talking to God or about God (2 Chronicles 6:40).

Omg different heaven