DEVOTION / You have rights to that name

"You don't have the right to use that name."

Cease and desist

That's what Taco John's told businesses in 49 states that advertised their own brand of Taco Tuesday.

Taco John's registered Taco Tuesday as a trademark in 1989. That gave them exclusive rights to the phrase in 49 states. Taco John's did not have trademark rights in New Jersey. Gregory's Restaurant and Bar owned it there beginning in 1982.

You have lost your rights

You don't have the right to use that name, our consciences tell us about phrases like child of God, son or daughter of God, heir of heaven. As proof, our consciences point to the ways we fail to act like God's children. Then those consciences call in expert witnesses against us: the demons who tempted us to commit those sins.

Grace restores our rights

The one whose judgment alone matters, however, calls in his expert witness. That witness is the one who has forgiven all our sins, even those that crush us with shame and guilt.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, his Word assures us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1). How can we be sure we have rights to the title children of God? We have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:1,2).

People need to know

Last summer Taco John's relinquished its rights to Taco Tuesday. In October, Gregory's did the same. Now any business can advertise their taco specials on Tuesdays as Taco Tuesday.

Because Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, became the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, not only can we call ourselves the children of God, that is what we are!

Now it's time for us to get the word out to everyone that, in Jesus, they, too, have rights to that name.