A Lesson Learned from a List of Names

Lori Salomo Mar 08, 2010

Maybe you're like me and you have what I call "geneology phobia."  It occurs as you're reading the Bible and you come across a chapter with a long list of names and think, "Oh good!  My devotion time will be shorter today because I'm NOT ABOUT to read through this list of impossible-to-pronounce names!!"  Other symptoms are: You become filled with an urgent desire to run away from the "Amminadabs" and the "Jehoshaphats" (why couldn't they just have named their kids Sam, Toby and Susie????); you have an allergic reaction when trying to figure out who begat whom.  YIPES!  Yep.  If you suffer from these things, you have geneology phobia.     But, the other day, while reading Romans 16, I came across a list of names (the hair on the back of my neck began to raise up) and was caught off-guard by how God spoke to me through it. 

If you have a Bible close to you, turn to Romans 16.  Normally I would just breeze through a chapter like this, but this time something different happened.  In chapter 16, Paul is sending personal greetings to friends and companions in Rome.  As I began to read the names written there, they suddenly became personal to me.  Here's some of what is found there:

  • Phoebe was Paul's friend who has been with him through thick and thin.  (And, believe me, read the book of Acts and you'll be overwhelmed by the difficulties he has suffered!)  She was heading off to Rome and Paul wanted to make sure that his "sis" was well cared for by his friends there. 
  • Two other amazing friends, Priscilla and Aquila, had a church in their home and risked their lives for Paul. 
  • I learned that a guy with the weird name Epenetus was the first guy to become a Christian in all of Asia.  Wow.  That's a big deal.  What a title to hold in history! 
  • Andronicus and Junias were related to Paul and they were imprisoned with him.  Could you imagine being arrested with your uncle, nephew or cousin?  Another relative, Herodian, is also mentioned. 

As I continued to read through this list of names (ok, I still snickered at the name "Asyncritus"), the names written there became more than names...they transformed into people with real stories, real connections and real personalities.  Suddenly, my BridgeWay friends and ministry partners came to mind and it occurred to me that I had "chapter 16" a list of my own...

  • To my brother, Steve, who serves faithfully in the Toddler classroom each and every week.  He loves those children and lays down his life for them.
  • Greet my sister, Peggy, who has given her time to lead the preschoolers and is now preparing for Great Banquet and helping many to draw closer to Christ.
  • I commend to you my brother, Larry, who serves faithfully and diligently, asking for nothing in return.
  • Greet Sheri who has spent many months sending out birthday cards to all l the little children of BridgeWay, making sure their special day did not go unnoticed
  • Send my greetings to Rob who not only changes diapers but also approaches ministry cheerfully and seems to take every opportunity to minister to the Walkers as a gift from God.
  • I commend to you Ken, my brother in the Lord, who acted as the "glue" for the BKL! team in the past few months.
  • Greet my sister, Annie, who has risked her life as she serves a classroom full of Kindergarten and First graders.  (Ok, maybe that's a little melodramatic, but some days have been hectic!)  LOL
  • Hey, I even found Jenni Craig and I in that list..."Tryphena and Tryphosa, women who worked hard in the Lord."  (Be sure to call Jenni "Tryphena" the next time you see her!)

How cool!  God used this chapter to remind me that every name written in the Bible was a real person with a real story.  God allowed them to be mentioned for a purpose.  This time the purpose was to remind me that I have my own list of amazing friends and ministry partners who are committed to spreading the Gospel and the work of Christ wherever they are.  Those listed above are just a few of the people who came to mind.  It would take hours to write down all the amazing leaders, volunteers and friends as BridgeWay, but  I think you get the picture.

So, next time you fall upon a geneology or name list in the Bible, don't run away from it.  As you read it, remind yourself that those people are a part of your faith heritage and God's got them in them listed in His Book for a reason.  Who knows, you might be reminded of all the amazing and wonderful people who are in your life too!