Ruth 1:1-22
Tuesday, 13 June 2023
But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.” –Ruth 1:16
A bold step taken by Ruth to pledge her allegiance to the living God is the crux of our reading today. Ruth, a worshipper of another god came into the household of the people of the true living God, probably thinking her life would be good from then on. But we see that it wasn’t so good at the beginning of the story, as one disaster after another came into the family. Then it came to a point where she and her sister-in-law Orpah were given the opportunity to leave after the death of the breadwinners of the family. Besides, Naomi reinforces her case saying: “…No, my daughters; for it is harder for me than for you, for the hand of the Lord has gone forth against me.” (Ruth 1:13). Yet Ruth was not tempted to leave, instead took the right decision to stay with the people of God, cleaving to her mother-in-law, to care for her and be with her, come what may!
In the same way when we are chosen by God and translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His Son, we are added to the family of God (church) to grow and to be discipled. But not everything is smooth sailing, even though when we first come to know Him, we may think that all our problems are over and we are going to have a great life. But as we all know this is not so. God begins a work in us to get rid of all the things that weigh us down. It is both an inward and outward struggle. Difficult circumstances that we do not /may never understand, come our way. One may even come to the point of wanting to leave the people of God or even the faith. It is at this crossroad that a crucial decision is usually taken! Be careful that you do not take the decision that Orpah did but instead take the right decision as Ruth did and trust God to see you through.
Even with an unknown future before her, Ruth decided to cleave to Naomi, the only source of comfort she trusted and followed her wherever she went. Throughout this book we are able to see Ruth’s whole-hearted trust in the living God and her obedience to her mother-in-law, which sometimes may have been confusing, yet her unquestioning obedience brought about both her redemption and the redemption of her household.
Today we are pointed to Ruth, the faithful follower. Let us also follow the Author and Finisher of our faith, Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:2) by following in his footsteps, so that we like Ruth will enter into the rest that is promised. We may not always fully grasp many ways the Lord leads or those He has appointed as leaders in the home or the church. But like Ruth let us trust in the Lord and follow, so that we can bring to fruition the vision given to us as individuals, our own household and the household of God. Let us patiently wait, watch and pray through difficult times as we trust the Lord to work out His purposes. When we do this, we too like Ruth will be known in the city for the good that was done, thus manifesting and bringing glory to Christ! (Refer Ruth 3:11)
Thought for the Day: The One Who called you is faithful and will do what He promised. (1 Thessalonians 5:24 NLV)