The Sweetest Name

 

...and thou shalt call His name JESUS
Matthew 1:21b

Very recently, I heard something very convicting in a sermon. The preacher was suggesting that for the most part, Christians can go day after day never even speaking the name “Jesus.” He added that a sad fact is that if not careful, even on Sunday's in church, we might go the entire day not hearing Jesus' name. At first I was shocked at both statements. I thought quickly to my own teaching of my Sunday school class and had to ask, “Do I ever mention His name in the course of my teaching?” Today's Sunday school literature tends to be very topical so a teacher can get lost in a topic and not in Jesus. The sad thing is that we may hear His name used in cursing out in the world where God isn't honored. If the world misuses that precious name, I'm not surprised. However, what's with us if we never counter-act the world's evil usage of that precious name by never speaking it in love ourselves.

In an acrostic using His precious name, I am reminded of just a few of His qualities that have meaning in my own life:

J- JOY...as I am reminded in Scripture that “The joy of the Lord is my strength.”

E- ETERNAL LIFE...because of Jesus, my Savior, and His love I have eternal life.

S- STRENGTH...He is my strength and shield in all circumstances of my life.

U- UNCHANGING...yesterday, today and forever...consistently the same.

S- SHEPHERD...this poor, dumb sheep needs tending and I love my shepherd.

We could use so many wonderful words for Him in an acrostic like this because He's just too precious to describe in one small article. You could look at the letters of His name and add your own characteristics you have found in our Lord. I could write blogs on all sorts of topics that I would hope could encourage, bless and perhaps help with some healing. However, there is no one like Jesus who has all the answers to our lives whether in our ups and downs or in's and outs.

In these days, I have been reminded of the chorus from a hymn:

Jesus is the sweetest name I know.
And He's just the same
As His lovely name.
And that's the reason why I love Him so,
For Jesus is the sweetest name I know.

Dear Jesus, I thank You today for who You are in my life. Forgive my laxity in thinking more about You in the course of my day. I realize there is power in a name but no power like in Your name. May I never forget that. I love You...in Your precious name. Amen