The Powerful Name of Jesus

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23, AMP)

Have you noticed that the name of Jesus isn’t used as much as the name of God?  I find in many conversations that I talk a lot about God and I hear a lot about Him.  But the mention of Jesus is rare.  Oh sure, I hear about Him and talk about Him during Easter and Christmas.  Who doesn’t?  But that name, that name that will cause every knee to bow… isn’t always on the tip of my tongue!  Why is that?

Honestly, I think that Satan is trying to silence us because he knows the power that exists in the name of Jesus.  He sees that power and it terrifies him.

Sometimes we see people cower from the name of Jesus, people disengage from conversation when we use His name, some people simply walk away, and still others are harsh when we talk about Jesus.  The name of Jesus stirs up controversy.  Have you seen it? I certainly have.

Sometimes we avoid conflict.  We don’t want to make anyone squirm or offend them.  We’ve become too conscious of how everyone feels and forgotten what it must feel like to be Jesus.  It was He who gave up His life in Heaven to come and live a sinless life for you and me.  He came to show you that someone understood your pain, someone understood your hunger, He empathized with your fears, He faced temptation, He faced abandonment, He faced cruel words and harsh actions.  He faced it all for you!  Yes, His name should stir up a little controversy.  He led a sinless life for you!  He gave up the comfort of Heaven, so that you might enjoy eternity with God one day.

The Truth is… My sin separated me from God’s grace.  It kept me from fully experiencing His mercy.  I would never know the full extent of God’s love without Him reaching out to me through His Son.  Jesus died for me!  He died for my sins!  He died to set me free!  How can I ever repay Him for all that He has done?

I can start by believing that there is power in His name.  His name will shine light into every dark place that I face.  Jesus will be my Shepherd, my Hope, my Redeemer, my Savior, my Messiah, and my Prince of Peace.  He will be the One to guide me ever forward in the things of God.

Yes, I will use the name of Jesus.  I will proclaim that Jesus is Lord.  I have too much to lose, if I don’t.  I will not be ashamed!  I will not give up!  I will live in a way that says I’m proud to have been bought by the Blood of the Lamb.  The one sacrifice that was once and for all…  for all my sins!

“And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”  ~Hebrews 10:10

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”  ~Hebrews 4:15-16

Dear Father God, I pray that I will come to fully understand the power that is in the name of Jesus.  I want to be fully aware of all that He has done for me and declare that proudly to all those I come in contact with.  May I never cower from sharing the message of the cross and may I boldly speak the name of Jesus.  I pray that the power of the Gospel will be released in my life.

In the Name of Jesus, Amen!