Have You Been Name Dropping?

Have you ever met people that make a point of dropping names of important people they know? You'd often think by the way that they talk that these important people are good friends, but often they are acquaintances at best.

Then there are those of us that frequently mention the name of Jesus in our conversations. And there are probably some who hear us do that and wonder if we really know Jesus, or whether we just like to drop his name around to make us seem spiritual.

God wants the name of Jesus to be magnified, that is, lifted up so that men will hear about Him, be drawn to Him, and worship Him (John 12:32).

But the Lord doesn't want people acting as if they have a relationship with Him if they don't.
Jesus warned that those that toss His name around lightly will be punished:

Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' - Matthew 7:22-23

There is an interesting story in the book of Acts where some men try to cast out a demon in the name of Jesus:

Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches."
Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.
And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?"
Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. - Acts 19:13-17

We are disrespecting God to toss around the name of Jesus as if we have a relationship with Him, if He is no more than a name we pay homage to on Sundays. Jesus deserves our respect. Our Heavenly Father wants the name of Jesus to be magnified, and He wants all men to be drawn to Him and saved. But we need to make sure that we are honest in the way we use His name. If you have a relationship with Jesus, tell others about it, and point them to Him. If you don't have a relationship with Jesus, find someone that does, and learn the difference between just believing things about Jesus, and knowing Jesus.

I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth. - Psalm 34:1
Yours in Him,
Pastor B.