Speaking of Jesus

"But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. ⁵ And he lifted his eyes and saw the women and children, and said, "Who are these with you?" So he said, "The children whom God has graciously given your servant."

Genesis 33:4-5

Jacob had many reasons to be concerned when meeting his brother Esau after being away for 20 years.  When Jacob departed years prior, Esau comforted himself with a plan to murder Jacob for stealing his blessing.  Upon his return Jacob sent droves of animals as presents and bowed himself to the ground 7 times to give honour and respect as a servant to a master.  Esau shed any regal bearing and ran to his brother, embraced him like a beloved friend and they wept tears of joy.  When Esau asked who the women and children who accompanied Jacob were he answered, "The children whom God has graciously given your servant."

Jacob returned from his uncle Laban's house a changed man, having been touched and blessed by God who was with him all those years.  I am impressed how Jacob was forthright about God and His grace to give him a large family to someone who, based upon his character in scripture, could be called a heathen.  It takes boldness, courage and faith in God to give Him credit and honour before people who do not regard Him.  History tells us the people of Edom, descendants of Esau, worshipped many idols.  This did not deter Jacob from plainly crediting God as his provider and gracious giver of all he possessed.

I have witnessed a persistent tendency over the years (and I include myself) to carefully adapt our language to those around us.  I have seen working men marked by salty language clean up their conversation during a formal dinner.  Children shouting obscenities on the playground can speak very differently when their strict parents are present.  I have observed people entirely change their manner of speaking when they discover I am a pastor.  In the same way people change their language to suit their perceived audience, Christians can strike mentions of Jesus from our vocabulary because the people we address do not believe or trust in Him.  We can be intimidated to speak of God to those who deny His existence while we might freely share with Christians.  Jacob's examples demonstrates this ought not to be.

Brother and sister in Christ, let us be ones who say the name of Jesus and extol the awesome glory and virtue of our God who has graciously given us all things.  Everything we have is a gift from God, and thus there is no shortage of things to express our thanksgiving to God to others regardless of their opinions.  If we restrict our mentions of God to those who already know Him, how can others come to know Him?  By faith in God let us be bold and courageous to humbly credit God with praise for all we have regardless to whom we speak.  If we would have Jesus confess us before the Father and angels we have not seen, we can rejoice to speak His name to those we meet--even when they don't know or fear Him.