“And He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter), and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”); and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot; and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him” (Mark 3:16-19).
The meaning in Hebrew of each of the names in their order: Hearing stone, contentious, graced by God, supplanter, loudness, vows love, rich in land, gift of God, twin, contentious, zealous, stone, and God is thanked. Everything has a meaning and the names put together tell us the story of salvation. Those who relinquish their life gain it. Those who keep their life and their own ideas lose what is offered. The Lord will take you on your own journey.
Lord, You have called for each one of us to follow You. You will build the verbs that act upon our lives to hold us fast to You if we do not cling to the stones of this age which need to be rejected. You are the cornerstone of my life. Help me to submit to You so that my life may be built according to the Father’s will. Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to humbly walk with You as the One who leads.
Lord Jesus, I know that You have called me. I know that You have guided me. Lead me so that I may humbly follow. Forgive me where I have betrayed You and by Your grace, guide me on the upward path of the calling You have given me. Teach me to humbly submit to all things You place before me and remove the demons and self-will that would get in the way. Amen.
