Romans 16
Names – there sure are a lot of them in
Romans 16! I am sometimes tempted to skim through sections of scripture like
this, which are filled with obscure names that are hard to pronounce. “Get to
the point,” I think as I pass by Phoebe, Prisca, Aquila, Epaenetus, and the
others.
But what if the names really are an
important part of the point? Each of these names represents a person, just as
your name represents you. We are our names. (Yes, there is more to who we are
than our names, but our names come to symbolize all that is us.)
Andronicus and Junia, Ampliatus,
Urbanus, and Stachys were all people with the same needs, hopes, fears, and
faith as we have. They were sinners who believed in Jesus for their salvation.
At the same time they walked in a real world, experienced hardships and joys,
and they walked the path laid out for them by faith.
Seeing those names is important because
they had to watch out for those who caused divisions – just as we do today.
They had to consider pure doctrine and how to respond to those who did not
teach it. They strove to be wise toward what is good and innocent toward what
is evil. They experienced the same struggles we do, and did so with the same
source of strength and courage we have – “The God of peace will soon crush
Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” God won
the victory for them. They lived (live!) by grace through faith in Jesus.
The Christian faith is sometimes derided
as pie-in-the-sky and Christians are sometimes portrayed as hopeless
Pollyannas. This is not the reality, however. Christians are normal people
experiencing life with all its ups and downs. The difference is that we do so
in relationship with God, who is real, loving, wise, merciful, just, and
justifying. He has given His Son to rescue us from our sins – which are the
real root of the struggles we face. You are part of a long lineage of people
who have hope because God has intervened in the world and in our lives. You
name may not be listed there in the Scriptures but your story is much the same
as those whose are – those who, just like you, walked by faith trusting that
God has redeemed us in Christ.
Lord, help me see you at work in my everyday
life, and help me hope in You. Amen.
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