Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!

"But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye." Acts 4:17-19

I saw an interesting article today on a football player named Tim Tebow.  Now, I know nothing about this man and do not follow sports at all.  However, it seems that he is continually bringing up his relationship with Jesus Christ and giving Jesus the glory every time the opportunity is presented.  As a result, it is making some people very uncomfortable, and even angry; one being former player Jake Plummer who had the following to say:

"Tebow, regardless of whether I wish he'd just shut up after a game and go hug his teammates, I think he's a winner and I respect that about him. I think that when he accepts the fact that we know that he loves Jesus Christ, then I think I'll like him a little better. I don't hate him because of that, I just would rather not have to hear that every single time he takes a good snap or makes a good handoff."

What about all of the self-exalting grandstanding that is done by ball players?  Does any of this offend?  The pounding on the chest, the dancing in the end zone, the jumping into the stands, the showboating in the interviews...  None of the flesh on display apparently bothers Plummer, but name the name of Jesus and he sees red.

Do you see how slick the devil is?  Satan will even cater to your ego in an attempt to get you to deny Christ. "See, I like YOU Tebow.  You're a winner!  It's just this Jesus guy that is the problem.  We would all like you even more if you just stop talking about Him." 

How blatantly "in your face" the hatred for Jesus Christ has become.  By comparison, if Tebow was a Muslim giving thanks continuously to Allah, such a comment would have never been made for the sake of "religious tolerance".   And Allah is a false god!  People are more respectful these days to idols than to the True & Living God.

When it comes to Jesus, it is a small thing for him to be accursed and mocked in the streets.  Even His very name is offensive because the soul of man knows instinctively that Jesus is God.

It reminds me of a statement that hip hop artist KRS-One is stated to have made:

"Be God, stop worshiping God. Be God. If your religion is Islam, eliminate the distance, stop worshiping Allah and be Allah. If your religion is Judaism, stop studying the 5 books of Moses. Be the law. Be Moses. If you are Christian, stop worshiping Jesus Christ and calling his name out. Be Jesus Christ. Be Buddha. Be Krishna."

Of all the "gods" mentioned by KRS-One, the only one whose name is offensive - the only one whose name must be stopped - is Jesus'.  

The demons know that there is power in the name of Jesus Christ and they tremble! They have been trying to stop His name from being proclaimed since the days in which He walked the earth.  Yet, those who belong to the Lord know that His name is a strong tower (Proverbs 18:10).

As others try to threaten you to stop naming the name of Jesus, I pray that you will have the strength to praise Him with even more boldness!  His is the name above all names.  It is the name by which all must be saved: Jesus!