What’s Your Name? 你叫什么名字？
Dexu Xia
Don’t call me Naomi. . . . Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. Ruth 1:20
Jen remarried after her first husband died. The children of her new husband never accepted her, and now that he’s passed away too, they hate her for remaining in their childhood home. Her husband left a modest sum to provide for her; his kids say she’s stealing their inheritance. Jen is understandably discouraged, and she’s grown bitter.
Naomi’s husband moved the family to Moab, where he and their two sons died. Years later, Naomi returned to Bethlehem empty-handed, except for her daughter-in-law Ruth. The town was stirred and asked, “Can this be Naomi?” (Ruth 1:19). She said they shouldn’t use that name, which means “my pleasant one.” They should call her “Mara,” which means “bitter,” because “I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty” (vv. 20–21).
Is there a chance your name is Bitter? You’ve been disappointed by friends, family, or declining health. You deserved better. But you didn’t get it. Now you’re bitter.
Naomi came back to Bethlehem bitter, but she came back. You can come home too. Come to Jesus, the descendant of Ruth, born in Bethlehem. Rest in His love.
In time, God replaced Naomi’s bitterness with the joyful fulfillment of His perfect plan (4:13–22). He can replace your bitterness too. Come home to Him.
By: Mike Wittmer
What name describes you? What does it mean for you to live out the name that describes who you are in Jesus?
Father, I’m coming home to find my rest in Your Son.
不要叫我拿俄米，⋯⋯要叫我玛拉，因为全能者使我受了大苦。—路得记1章20节
洁恩在她第一任丈夫过世后再婚，可是她第二任丈夫的孩子们却不愿意接受她。后来，她第二任丈夫也过世了，他的子女因洁恩依旧住在他们的老家而憎恨她，甚至因为洁恩得到丈夫留下的一小笔生活费而指责她偷窃了他们的遗产。可想而知，洁恩深受打击，越发感到怨怼悲苦。
拿俄米的丈夫带全家人搬迁到摩押地，结果他和两个儿子都客死异乡。多年后，拿俄米带着媳妇路得，一无所有地返回伯利恒。全城的人一阵骚动，问道：“这是拿俄米吗？”（路得记1章19节）但拿俄米要大家别再叫她“拿俄米”（甜的意思），而要叫她“玛拉”（苦的意思），她说：“我满满地出去，耶和华使我空空地回来。”（20-21节）
你的名字也叫“苦”吗？你是否因朋友、家人或健康恶化而感到失望。现实状况不符期待，是否也令你怨怼悲苦？
拿俄米带着悲苦回到伯利恒，但她还是回到了自己的家乡。同样地，你也可以“回家”，回到耶稣的身边，祂是路得的后裔，是降生于伯利恒的救主。你可以全然信靠祂的慈爱！
最终，上帝除去了拿俄米心中的悲苦，以祂完美的计划使拿俄米满心喜乐（4章13-22节）。祂也可以将你的愁苦变为喜乐。现在就回转归向祂吧！
作者： 韦陌格
什么名字能贴切地形容你？
你要如何活出你在基督里的名字？
天父，我要回转归向祢，在祢的爱子里得着安歇。