Life is tough. People go through things. When people go through things it changes them. I get it. If you have lived any length of time--you get it too. The problem remains however in the fact that we sometimes, most times, have to do life together. I wish I could type, "We get to do life together." However, it is not always a joyous journey. Ask Ruth. She followed Naomi who chose to change her name to Mara, meaning bitter. What we call ourselves is important. Words carry weight and a name carries identity. Let's call ourselves what God calls us.
In Proverbs 18:10 the king Solomon wrote
“The name of the Lord is like a strong tower;
the righteous person runs to it and is set safely on high.”
“The name of the Lord is like a strong tower;
the righteous person runs to it and is set safely on high.”
Scripture tells us that there is power in the name of Jesus. Scripture also tells us that as a man believes in his heart, so is he. In this case her--Naomi believed that she was bitter and had nothing to offer, she was dried up. Oh, but this is where the power of a Ruth comes in. Ruth believed there was something in Naomi worth following. Ruth believed that inside of the outer shell of a bitter woman, was wisdom to connect her to a realm she had not yet learned.
ACTION STEP: Don't let circumstances change your name. Be open for God to intervene in your life. There is power in the name of Jesus, why wouldn't there be power in your name. Don't call yourself what God has not called you. Be opened for the Ruth's in your life. There is power in the name. Ruth's name means friend, it actually means "compassionate friend". Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. Let's model ourselves after Jesus. Run to the tower! Go after the gift in others regardless of the cost.
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