The manager of a large office asked a new employee to come into his office. "What is your name?," was the first thing the manager asked.
"John," the new guy replied. The manager scowled. "Look, I don't know what kind of a namby-pamby place you worked at before, but I don't call anyone by their first name! It breeds familiarity and that leads to a breakdown in authority," he said. "I refer to my employees by their last name only - Smith, Jones, Baker - that's all. Now that we got that straight, what is your last name?" The new guy sighed and said, "Darling. My name is John Darling." The manager said, "Okay, John, the next thing I want to tell you..."
When the angel spoke to Joseph about the promised child, he said, "And you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who shall save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). The apostle Peter said, "There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Paul the apostle said, "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father" (Colossians3:17). The name does make a difference. Salvation has been expanded by the world to include salvation in any name, and
authority for what is taught and practiced in our faith has often been replaced with the creeds of men.
No wonder Jesus said, "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). Only Jesus can save, and let all that we do in word or deed be done in His name, by His authority. Come and learn of Him and His way!
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