MY
DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL
Devotion
for Friday January 13, 2017
Topic:
Mahlon And Chillion
Text:
Ruth 1:2
Yesterday we read about the main
theme behind the book Ruth which is famine. We also saw that Elimelech was not
the first in the Scriptures to flee from the land afflicted by famine. Today,
we have in our text the nativity of Elimelech and the names of members of his
family. They are from Ephrathites-Bethlehem otherwise called Ephratha.
The name Elimelech means “My God is
King,” while Naomi signifies
“My amiable, delight or pleasant one.” But the names of their children are worthy of note because it teaches us some lessons concerning the name we bear. Names are very significant in what we become or the way we behave in future.
“My amiable, delight or pleasant one.” But the names of their children are worthy of note because it teaches us some lessons concerning the name we bear. Names are very significant in what we become or the way we behave in future.
Mahlon and Chillion signify “Sickness
and consumption.” This shows that probably they were sickly children (sickle
cell anaemia), and not likely to live long. They were seen as weak and infirm,
fading and dying, and their parents gave them such names.
Most parents give names to their
children as a reminder of what they have passed through before they were born.
We can recall that of Jabez, Ichabod, etc. All these are not good names because
they have ways of affecting the children in future. Some names can affect the
way we live and behave just like Nabal (1 Sam 25:25) who acts foolishly because
his name means foolishness.
Unfortunately, just as their names
were, Mahlon and Chillion died in Moab without accomplishing anything simply
because they were called sickly and dying, and it was eventually so. We should
be mindful of the names we bear as it can make us or mar us. We shouldn’t bear
names that will destroy our bright future. On the other hand, parents should
give names that show faith, praise and joy of the Lord to their children. This
will bring blessings upon our children more than the likes of Mahlon and
Chillion.
Food
for Thought:
Your name affects what you eventually become in life either good or bad.
Memory
verse: Ruth
1 verse 2 - And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi,
and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chillion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Judah.
And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
Prayer:
God, I dedicate my name to you that I will live it out to your praise and glory in Jesus name. Amen.
