Bible teacher Gary Burge stood at one end of a long, empty Gaza street. He was in Israel to do research for a book about Palestinian believers, and he wanted to talk to a Dr. Hassan at the Ali Arab hospital. The hospital was at the other end of the street, so he started walking. He soon discovered why the street was empty. On one side was the Israeli militia; on the other were Palestinian youths.

Halfway up the street, the calm was shattered by angry shouts, the chaotic clatter of rocks bouncing off plastic military shields, and the pop of rifles firing rubber bullets. Burge broke into a run. As he reached the hospital, he shouted desperately, “Dr. Hassan! I have come to see Dr. Hassan!” The door opened slightly, and a hand pulled him inside. Burge had called the name of the one who could save his life.

For sinners, “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesus is that name, “the name which is above every name” (Phil. 2:9). We are all born in sin. We have no hope of ever saving ourselves (Eph. 2:8-9). Our situation is desperate. The only way of escape is to call on Jesus, who promises to save us from all our sin. But we must ask Him.

How about you? Have you called on His name?

  — David C. Egner