Using Jesus

Today’s reading: Acts 19:13-41

“A team of Jews who were traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus.” - Acts 19:13

Seven Jewish sons of a man named Sceva tried to use the name of Jesus like you use an air compressor, but their plan backfired. The demon immediately recognizes them as frauds. They lost their clothes and some of their blood in the process.

We cannot use Jesus like another product that gives us benefits toward what we want. God desires a relationship with us through Jesus.

“God reveals himself in personal relationship and only in personal relationship. God is not a phenomenon to be considered. God is not a force to be used. God is not a proposition to be argued. There is nothing in or of God that is impersonal, nothing abstract, nothing imposed.” - Eugene Peterson

Do we want to use Jesus, or do we want Jesus to use us?

This has the potential to radically change how we pray, how we read the Bible, and how we attempt to help those in need around us.