Tues.’s Devo - What’s in a Name?

Read Ro. 16:7-11 Paul is honoring and sending his greeting to those in Rome that had labored with him. Andronicus and Junia are next. Andronicus means “victory of man” and Junia means “youthful”. Paul goes on to call them his kinsmen even though they were not blood-related. To Paul, they were his brothers. They went to prison with Paul and were his spiritual mentors and fellow apostles. Not only were they victorious over their flesh, but they remained youthful in spirit. Amplias was much loved by Paul. His name means “enlarged”. I love that word. It means growth and maturity. I couldn’t find Urbane in my book of names but I found Ur which means “light”. Paul describes him as his helper or companion in labor. That is what the light of the Holy Spirit is: our helper. He is mentioned along with Stachys which means “ear of corn”. He must have been like that ear of corn that Jesus said fell to the ground and died in order to produce great fruit. I would have loved to hear his testimony. Apelles is next. His name means “without receptacle”. A receptacle is a container. I can only guess that maybe he didn’t keep account of offenses or sins, but was able to let them go. That is only a weak speculation but he was acceptable to Jesus and worthy of Paul’s mention. Aristobulus means “best counselor” so we know about him and his family. Herodion means “heroic”. Narcissus means “narcotic”. He must have been addictive in the Lord. That’s a great thing to be addicted to! I had no idea we would spend so much time on this last chapter but this has been interesting. Lord, may our lives reflect your name.