HEBREWS 1:8-10: “But regarding the Son He says, “Your throne, God, is forever and ever, And the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of His kingdom. “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of joy above Your companions .” And, “You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of Your hands;” NASB

OBSERVATION: What is the big deal about Jesus anyway? Why do Christians claim that He is the only way to God? Why does the world recoil at the sound of His name? Why do people use the name of Jesus as a cuss word while venerating and protecting the name of other so-called prophets and deities?

Several years back, the Ministerial Alliance of Parker County Texas, approached the Weatherford City Council about their lack of saying the pledge of allegiance and praying before Council Meetings. The entire Ministerial Alliance stood united in their call to the Council to reinstate the pledge and prayer.

Reluctantly, the City Council agreed. I was asked to offer one of the first prayers at a Council Meeting that was taking place on September 11. I took this task seriously, both to honor all those who had fallen in this attack against our nation and also to pray for God’s guidance for our City as they conducted their business.

I don’t normally write out my prayers, but I did for this occasion. I ended my prayer with – “And I ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior.” Nothing was said at the meeting but the next day the phone began to ring at the President’s office of the Ministerial Alliance.

The President was told that we would no longer be able to offer a prayer before the meeting if we used the name of Jesus in our prayers. At our weekly meeting, this was brought up and it was discussed thoroughly. Some thought we could simply pray to God in a generic way. I protested and said if we are going to stand as a Christian Ministerial Alliance then we must not shy away from praying in the name of Jesus!

Eventually, everyone agreed and our response was relayed to City Hall. When they saw that we stood in agreement they reluctantly agreed. From that time prayers were offered at every City Hall meeting and other departments in the city began asking for pastors to lead them in prayer before their meeting – in the name of Jesus!

The name of Jesus is unlike any other name. It is not simply the name of a prophet or a great teacher. It is the name of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It is the name of the one who Created all things and willfully laid down His life for our sins. It is the name of the one who defeated the power of Satan, broke the power of sin and death, and is coming back to establish His Kingdom of Righteousness.

It is the only name by which men and women can be saved! Acts 4:12

And, it is the name that has been elevated above all names by God the Father. It is God the Father who proclaims the power of the name of Jesus.

• “Your throne, God, is forever and ever, And the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of His kingdom. “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of joy above Your companions .”

The name of Jesus demands a response. One cannot be neutral regarding this name. It will either lead to the salvation of one’s soul or the eternal judgment of a heart that has hardened itself to the grace of God. Yet, regardless of the response one gives in this life, there is coming a day when everyone will have to acknowledge to beauty and power of His name!

• “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11

We all have a choice as to what we will do with the name of Jesus. We can choose to freely kneel before His name now, confess Him as Lord, and worship Him. Or, we can reject Him, meet Him in judgment, and one day be forced to acknowledge Him for who He really is. God invites us to believe in Jesus now. To the one who acknowledges His name, they will receive both blessings in this life and in the life to come. As the wonderful chorus proclaims,

One day every tongue will confess you as God

One day every knee will bow

Still the greatest treasure remains for those

Who gladly choose You now!

Lord, thank you for giving me the grace to choose You! I pray that everyone who reads this will receive Your grace to choose You now!

In Jesus’ Name!