Finding God in the Mysteries of every Day

Week 9 Day 3

A new Name I give to you

Matthew 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

            With this post I am changing the name of these messages to Finding God in the mysteries of every day. While for me this is more of a marketing and identity decision, for Simon the fisherman his name change would chart the course for the rest of his life leading to his crucifixion on the inverted cross on the Appian Way so many years later. In Koine Greek the name Peter is rendered as Petra (Petra) In the parlance of the day it would be like naming someone “Rocky”  Petra is the diminutive form of the Greek word Petros (Petros) which means Rock, or bed rock, or foundational rock if you will. By his name change Peter’s life would become a representation and symbol of the testimony of Jesus the Christ as the cornerstone upon which the Church of Jesus is being built.

            So, what’s in a name? It seems like today names don’t mean very much. We toss them around without regard for why someone or something is named the way they are. “Named after…”, pick your favorite relative. I’ve even seen people named after cartoon characters or cuts of meat. Perhaps we don’t take life as seriously now as people of older cultures have over the centuries. Although, nowadays I hear an awful lot of people approaching retirement talking about “legacy”.

            I chose to change the name of these posts for two reasons, First I have discovered several other “bloggers” out there using the same title for their posts. (Not your problem, but mine.) Second, I think the new name speaks more to the purpose of these posts. Everyday is a glimpse into the mystery of God. “Why does he love me so”? (Graham Milton Barlin 2016) a line from a chorus which I must ask myself every day.

            Finally, the stories I am writing are an attempt to show how people may seek God and be led by him in every phase of life including danger and adventure. Check them out at larrymlawrence.com