Reading:    Luke 19:28-40

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”  “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Luke 19:39-40

Growing up, I knew it was a bad thing to say a four-letter word.  There was a list of words that would slip from my dad’s mouth on occasion that were strictly taboo.  For me to say them meant trouble.  I have a memory of a bar of soap in my mouth to prove it.  It didn’t take me long to learn to avoid those four-letter words.

The world today is a much different place than when I grew up.  Those four-letter words that were once off limits are almost common language now.  Those four-letter words have been replaced with a five-letter name.  The world is always trying to rebuke us for praising God and, for the most part, it is successful.  There is a general fear of saying the name “Jesus” in a public forum.  We worry that we will be ostracized for our faith at best and fear a lawsuit at worst.  We’ve learned to avoid displaying our faith in the open to keep peace with the world.

Peace with the world, however, has never been a promise of Christianity.  As popular as Jesus was He never had peace with those in power.  There has always been a struggle between faith and the world.  We can’t escape it.  We may be able to avoid saying the name “Jesus,” but if we are living our faith we will not escape the battle with the world.  To have faith is to be against the world.  The two cannot be at peace.

The world may want us to stop saying the name “Jesus,” but our faith calls us to praise His name.  As believers, “Jesus” is not a “five-letter word.”  We should be proud of our faith and boldly proclaim the name “Jesus.”

Challenge:  Do you avoid showing your faith in public?  Be open to opportunities today to show others that you believe in Jesus Christ.

Prayer Request:  Pray that people will be strengthened and encouraged to invite others to hear God’s message this Good Friday and Easter weekend.