And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12

It was in the last half of the 19th century when President Ulysses S. Grant was on his way to attend a dinner reception being offered in his honor. As he went, it began to rain and Grant opened his umbrella. When he came across a stranger who seemed to be going the same way he was, he offered to share that umbrella with the man. As they walked, they discovered they were both going to the same banquet. It was then that the stranger, lowering his voice, said, "Between us, I've always thought that Grant was a much-overrated man."

To which the unrecognized President replied, "That is my view also."

We enjoy talking about others.

We like talking about people, and it's obvious our prejudice and bigotry can shape what we say.

It was 1921 when Wellington Koo, the Ambassador of China, came to America. He found himself at a banquet, sitting next to a young lady. By the time the first course had been finished, the young lady had grown uncomfortable with the silence between her and her tablemate. Attempting to begin a conversation, she turned to the Ambassador and very slowly said, "Likey soupy?"

Ambassador Koo merely nodded and continued with his dinner. Later, after the meal was concluded, Koo got up to speak to the guests. He spoke for ten minutes -- in perfect English.

Sitting down, he turned to the young lady and said, "Likey speechy?"

We like to talk about others, don't we? You know what I mean. Name a recent president, and most people have an opinion about him. We have opinions on the garbage collector, the children's teachers, the preacher in the pulpit, the auto mechanic, the next-door neighbor, and the check-out person at the grocery store. We have our opinions and we're not afraid to say what we think ... unless, of course, we believe the individual we're talking about might overhear us, or an unfriendly ear is listening and is going to tell on us.

After all, we don't want anybody to talk badly about us.

About 500 years ago Martin Luther said, "It is a common evil plague that everyone prefers hearing evil to hearing good of his neighbor; and ... we cannot suffer that any one should say anything bad about us ... everyone would much rather that all the world should speak of him in terms of gold, yet we cannot bear that ... spoken about others."

Luther knew. We like to talk about others, don't we?

Now, if we're prepared to have an opinion and talk about all the regular, normal people around us, it would be surprising if we didn't have an opinion, and weren't prepared to talk about Jesus Christ. How could we ignore the most important Individual in all of history?

The coming of the Christ, His birth, His life, His suffering, His death, His resurrection is the turning point of history. Jesus stands alone. Jesus is absolutely unique. He has changed the way the world thinks and He alone is the Way to forgiveness and eternal life.

To that end He was born and to accomplish that end, He died and rose. Now, no matter what others may say or think, He remains the only One who can move us from hell to heaven, from damnation to redemption. And that makes Him Someone really worth talking about.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, may the words I use to describe You be filled with praise concerning Your great love. May we be emboldened to speak to others about Jesus, so they may know there is no other name under heaven by which they can be saved. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 67, 71    Philippians 2

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