…do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.Colossians 3:17
As a participant on a panel, I heard a group of teenagers once ask, “If Jesus was all about love, why have so many been killed in his name?” The question intrigued me, as did the uncertainty of the panelists. In response, I asked, “What events are you thinking about specifically?” One shot back, “the Crusades” another followed with “Hitler killing the Jews.” Their only points of reference were events instigated by Christians from the 11th century and they put them along side a 20th century event perpetrated by a mad man. Now I was the one uncertain how to answer!
We live in a period of history where the past is muddled for the majority of individuals. Events flow into each other and we’re not able to make distinctions between what is truth and what is fiction. If, as Jesus followers, Truth is our guide then it becomes an absolute necessity in this environment to know what we’re talking about.If doing everything in the name of Jesus is our compass then we better know everything involving the power of His Name. Jesus sends his disciples out into the world with only His name and they heal, restore; changing lives through the Kingdom message.
The name of Jesus is powerful and testimonial. Doing everything in the name of Jesus demands that we intimately know Him; allowing Him to saturate our souls. Think about the end result, however—we could bring about a powerful transformation to our world.
I pray that the teenagers will experience the transformation.
Jesus, thank you for givingme the power of Your name.
Be my teacher.
I am committed to learningmore about how Your name can transform
my life and the world.
Amen.
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