The Name Game

Acts 19:1-20 narrates some of Paul's activities in Ephesus. In particular, it speaks of how God worked through hm to free many from the hold of evil spirits. Some Jews, specifically, the seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, tried to duplicate his success by evoking the name of Jesus whom Paul preached. 

I can't help but chuckle when I think of what happened next. They ordered an evil spirit out of an individual "in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches" (v. 13), who responded, "Jesus I know, Paul I know about, but who are you" (v. 15)?  Then, "the man with the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding" (v. 16). 

The seven sons talked the talk but were not walking the walk. They knew and employed the name of the Lord Jesus, but they did not know the Lord.  Many today are naming and claiming things in the name of Jesus, who, like the Sceva boys, do not have an active relationship with him. 

Claiming to be a disciple, attending church services, teaching a Bible class or even preaching the Gospel without giving your heart to the Lord is nothing more than a name game. "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" (Gal 5:6).

It's not what you say or even what you do, it's how you live. Do you live in a dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ or do you simply go through the motions and recite the jargon?  Who do you live for - self or Christ?  

Jus' Askn.