Ding Dong, my front door bell rings, it’s 3:00 and my first guests are arriving. Checking my book to make sure I remember their first name and what room, I rush down the steps to answer the door. “Welcome to the Mill House, I’m Kathy” I say with a big smile. They step inside to introduce themselves by name. Showing them around we make small talk, I answer questions and make sure they feel at home.
Once they are all settled in, I make the trek back up the stairs only to realize I have forgotten one of their names. I don’t have any trouble remembering the half of the couple that made the reservation, it’s the spouse’s name I tend to forget. If I do remember, I quickly jot it in my reservation book. If I don’t, I carefully listen to see if their name is mentioned or I just have to ask them a second time!
If Ron happens to be home to help me welcome guests, one of us usually remembers. I’ve even had weekends where I call someone the wrong name all weekend, they don’t correct me and Ron ends up telling me once they leave that I have called them by the wrong name…talk about embarrassing.
I was thinking about names today. People like to be addressed by their name. I think they like to hear their name. Someone speaking your name can evoke different emotions, depending on the other’s tone of voice or situation. Your name may be yelled out as someone sees you across Wal-Mart while you are shopping, maybe your name is whispered in church, your parent might yell your name if it is time to come to dinner or if you are disobeying. Personally, I love it when people use my name. If I call to order something, make a reservation, or call the doctor’s office, it makes me feel like they care. Names have power, power to change our emotions in a moment. Can you imagine if you were at “The Price is Right” and they yelled, “Kathy, Come on down!” Now that would evoke some major emotion in me!!
I’ve been reading the book of Acts during my devotional time this week. We speak the name of Jesus in church, at Bible study, during our prayers, and some even use the name of Jesus inappropriately in vain. But as I read the following verses the name of Jesus brought me a new respect for the name of my savior.
Remember the story in Acts 3 when Peter and John, on their way to the temple for the three o’clock prayer service encountered the lame man at the Temple Gate or the Beautiful Gate? He was carried there daily to beg. He asked Peter and John for money, but Peter told him they didn’t have money but would give then what they had…and Peter said,” In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”
Of course we know what happened next, Peter helped the man up, his feet and ankles were healed! He began walking, leaping, and praising God!
Acts 3:16 “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed- and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes.”
WOW! There is real power in the name of Jesus! Just speaking the name of Jesus is powerful. Sometimes when I don’t know what to pray I just speak the name of Jesus!
Acts 4: 12 says; There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved”
There is no other name under heaven as powerful as Jesus’ name. The power to save!
Back to the inn..I promise I will do my very best to remember your name! And if I call you by the wrong name, please correct me and I’m sorry!
