His Name

Scripture: Acts 4:12 - Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.

Observation: The crippled man was healed by faith in Jesus (Acts 3:16). Peter and John, filled with the Holy Spirit, name Jesus Christ as "Savior" when asked by the Sanhedrin by what power or name the man was healed. Here, and in Exodus, God and God alone has stepped in to save His people. In Exodus 6, God tells the Israelites that they will know Him by a new name (I AM or Yahweh (personal, covenant God) usually translated as LORD). What is about to change? Exodus 6:6-7 says: Therefore, say to the Israelites: 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.

In Exodus, it's the Israelites being saved from slavery by the Egyptians. In Acts, it's all who put their faith in Jesus being saved from sin and death. In both cases, the ones being saved know God by a new name: Personal, covenant, Savior. Peter and John's response to this knowledge is found in Acts 4:20: "As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

Application: When we put our faith in Jesus, we have been saved, and continue to be saved because we know Him and trust Him as our personal covenant Savior. It's not just a "ticket to heaven", it's a relationship with the God of the universe! Wow, as for me, I cannot help speaking about what I have seen and heard!

As I was working out this morning, I thought about where I was this time last year. I was definitely not doing sit-ups; I was waiting to have surgery. Even worse than that, I was hiding who I really was. Over the past 12 years, I had become very involved in church and had even been in several leadership roles. I was there nearly every time the doors were open. I studied the Bible, prayed, and worshiped. There was only one problem. I had not really put my faith in Jesus and made a covenant with Him. Yes, I believed in Him, but I did not really believe Him. When I prayed, I had a list a mile long, but I think I really viewed Him more like Santa Claus than someone who loved me enough to die for me. I was never really open and honest with Him for fear that I would mess up and say or do something wrong. I was completely wearing myself out trying to be "good enough" for my family, my friends, my church, and probably last but certainly not least...God.

God brought me through that surgery. We started having honest, real conversations. He placed on my heart that I needed to be baptized because I had never really made that covenant with Him. It was hard to admit to everyone I knew that I was not who I had appeared to be, and many people did not understand. He has been with me every step of the way, and a couple of times I have heard him whisper, "I'm well aware you skipped first base, but you just come on home with me and we'll start over together".

Much change has occurred in me in the past year, and in all of my relationships. Physically, I feel better than I have felt in years. But, the best change by far is that I now know Him as LORD and Savior.

Prayer: Lord, you know me inside and out. You know what makes me leap for joy and what makes me scared to death. Open my mouth, Lord, and put your words in it. Give me the courage to speak (not just write) them. Open my ears so that I can hear you over all the noise in my head and in my world. Open my eyes so that I can see the needs around me. Thank you for the awesome, amazing privilege of knowing you! Thank you for breaking down every wall that I built up and bringing me into your marvelous light! I love you!