There are names that give courage to warriors’ hearts, names that give inspiration to philosophers’ minds, names that give skill to sculptors’ chisels, glory to painters’ utterances, endurance to athletes’ struggles, and joy to martyrs’ sufferings. There is a name that gives strength to friendship when the road is rough, and there are more thorns to endure than roses to kiss. There is a name that is a roof over our heads and refuge when the storm is raging. There is a name that is a bondage-breaking name for those bound in sin. Tis the name of Jesus, who is from above and is above all. I am trying to get to the SAVING NAME OF JESUS.
We must lift up His name in songs, in prayers, in sermons, in living, in giving, in serving as our rallying cry. Charles Lamb was right when he said, “If all the illustrious men were gathered together and Shakespeare should enter their shinning company they would all rise to do him honor. But if Jesus Christ should come, we would all kneel to worship Him.” Napoleon was right when he confessed, “I know men, and I tell you Jesus is not a man. Comparison is impossible between Him and any other being in the world.”
I agree with the hymn writer who so eloquently penned, “Precious name, O how sweet. Hope of earth and joy of heaven.” No wonder the Biblical historian, Luke, wrote in Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
IS THERE ANYTHING IN A NAME? There is power in a name. If someone is knocking on your door at two o’clock in the morning, almost to tear it down; you get upset. But when you hear a voice saying, “OPEN UP IN THE NAME OF THE LAW,” things change. Power is in the name of Rockefeller in the financial world, power in the name of Ford in the industrial world, power in the name of Socrates in the philosophical world, and power in the name of Mozart in the musical world.
In the religious world, there is power in the name of Jesus. Salvation is in the name of Jesus, and no other. The apostles worked miracles in Jesus’ name (Acts 3:6), repentance and remission of sins preached in His name (Lk. 24:46), Baptized in His name (Acts 8:16). We worship in the name of Jesus (Mt. 18:20), we work in His name (Col. 3:17) and we pray in His blessed name. (John 14:14)
