Followers of Christ have a brand-new identity.

基督的跟随者有个全新的身分！

I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it.

Revelation 2:17

我必……赐他一块白石，石上写着新名。?-启示录2章17节

She called herself a worrier, but when her child was hurt in an accident, she learned how to escape that restricting label. As her child was recovering, she met each week with friends to talk and pray, asking God for help and healing. Through the months as she turned her fears and concerns into prayer, she realized that she was changing from being a worrier to a prayer warrior. She sensed that the Lord was giving her a new name. Her identity in Christ was deepening through the struggle of unwanted heartache.

她自称为忧愁女士，因为她总是杞人忧天。但是，当她的孩子意外受伤时，她终于学会如何不再忧心忡忡了。在孩子的复原期间，她每星期都会和朋友们一起祷告，祈求上帝的帮助与医治，并分享孩子的进展。那几个月里，她学习将恐惧与挂念化为祷告，结果她发现自己不再是忧愁女士，而是祷告勇士。她觉得主给了她一个新的名字。因着这段时间的心痛经历，让她对自己在主基督里的身分，有更深的认识。

In Jesus’s letter to the church at Pergamum, the Lord promises to give to the faithful a white stone with a new name on it (Rev. 2:17). Biblical commentators have debated over the meaning, but most agree that this white stone points to our freedom in Christ. In biblical times, juries in a court of law used a white stone for a not-guilty verdict and a black stone for guilty. A white stone also gained the bearer entrance into such events as banquets; likewise, those who receive God’s white stone are welcomed to the heavenly feast. Jesus’s death brings us freedom and new life—and a new name.

在耶稣给别迦摩教会的信中，祂应许要给那些有信心的人，一块写着新名的白石 (启示录2章17节) 。圣经学者虽曾对此有些争议，但多数都同意，这块白石指的是我们得到基督的赦免。在圣经时代，法庭在裁决被告是否有罪时，会以白色的石头代表无罪，而以黑色的石头代表有罪。另外，拥有白石的人还能参加筵席，如同人若领受上帝所赐的白石，也可参加天国的筵席一般。耶稣的死不仅让我们罪得赦免，也给了我们新生命和新名字。

What new name do you think God might give to you?

你觉得上帝会给你什么样的新名字呢？

May I live out my new identity,

 sharing Your love and joy.

 Show me how You have made me

into a new creation.

主啊，愿我活出新的身份，

与人分享你的爱与喜悦。

愿你也向我显明，

你是如何让我成为一个新造的人。

 Read:Revelation

2:12-17 New International Version
(NIV)

To the Church in
Pergamum

12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum
write:

These are the words
of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.
13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet
you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me,
not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness,
who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.

14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you:
There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam,
who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food
sacrificed to idols
and committed sexual immorality.
15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching
of the Nicolaitans.
16 Repent
therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with
the sword of my mouth.

17 Whoever has ears, let them hear
what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious,
I will give some of the hidden manna.
I will also give that person a white stone with a new name
written on it, known only to the one who receives it.

寄信给别迦摩

12 “你要写信给别迦摩教会的使者说：‘那有两刃利剑的说： 13 我知道你的居所，就是有撒旦座位之处。当我忠心的见证人安提帕在你们中间、撒旦所住的地方被杀之时，你还坚守我的名，没有弃绝我的道。 14 然而，有几件事我要责备你，因为在你那里，有人服从了巴兰的教训。这巴兰曾教导巴勒将绊脚石放在以色列人面前，叫他们吃祭偶像之物，行奸淫的事。 15 你那里也有人照样服从了尼哥拉一党人的教训。

当悔改

16 ‘所以，你当悔改！若不悔改，我就快临到你那里，用我口中的剑攻击他们。 17 圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听！得胜的，我必将那隐藏的吗哪赐给他，并赐他一块白石，石上写着新名，除了那领受的以外，没有人能认识。’

整理：于姊妹