September 1, 2021 (Wednesday)
Today is September 1st. The “Sept” in this month’s name means “seven” in Latin. The months that will follow utilize the Latin words, “Oct” (eight), “Nov” (nine), and “Dec” (ten). If that is so, then, pray tell, why is September the ninth month in our calendar? Well, thankfully, the answer is pretty easy: “September used to be the seventh month of a ten-month calendar. That was “long ago and far away.” When we switched to our twelve-month calendar, September through December just kept their old names. We can thank the Roman emperors for this. When we finally got the “Gregorian” calendar we use today, it had twelve months and the first month was March. Our calendar today tells us that September is the ninth month, even though the name itself says otherwise. What’s in a name? Apparently nothing when naming the months September through December. We might ask where the other two months, January and February, came from and the answer would be that, in the Julian Calendar of ten months, the days between December and March had not counted as part of the calendar year. They were just known as, “winter.” Or so I have been told.
Here in our twenty-first century year of 2021, in the U.S.A. we’ve adjusted our calendar with special days like “Memorial Day” and “Labor Day,” which are designated days that may fall on different days of the month, number-wise. For instance, Labor Day in 1948 fell on September 6th. The date changes each year, but is always on the first Monday of the month. I remember Labor Day 1948 because I preached my very first sermon the day before on a Sunday (September 5, 1948). In Houston. The text was Philippians 2:5-11. I did not know much about the Bible yet, but I could not have chosen a better text, because it was all about Jesus. That was seventy-three years ago and I was sixteen years old, soon to be seventeen.
If I am still alive a few weeks from now, I will celebrate my ninetieth birthday. When I stood in the pulpit for the first time so long ago, I never dreamed I would be able to anticipate such a birthday. Even now, as I write these words, they don’t seem quite real.
Now, here is the question: What day is today? And the answer comes from 2 Corinthians 6:2 NKJV, “For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.'” And don’t forget Acts 16:31, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”
Growing up in Houston, we often crossed the Crockett Street Viaduct, located near the Evangelistic Temple. From the car, our eyes fixed on the signs around the roof of the huge building. In the picture below, you can see the words, “Jesus Saves.” Those words were illuminated brightly and we could not drive over the viaduct without seeing them. The building and the viaduct are gone now and a huge Interstate Highway interchange has replaced it. But I will always remember the big bright sign: “Jesus Saves.”
JESUS SAVES!
Author: Priscilla J. Owens
Tune: William J. Kirkpatrick
1898
We have heard the joyful sound:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Spread the tidings all around:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Bear the news to ev’ry land,
Climb the steeps and cross the waves;
Onward! ’tis our Lord’s command;
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Waft it on the rolling tide:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Tell to sinners far and wide:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Sing, ye islands of the sea;
Echo back, ye ocean caves;
Earth shall keep her jubilee:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Sing above the battle strife:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
By His death and endless life:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Sing it softly through the gloom,
When the heart for mercy craves;
Sing in triumph o’er the tomb:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Give the winds a mighty voice:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Let the nations now rejoice:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Shout salvation full and free,
Highest hills and deepest caves;
This our song of victory:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!