Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: Ruth 1-4
Devotional Thought:
Warren Wiersbe makes a great statement in his introduction to this little book of the Bible. “A family makes a bad decision in exchanging a famine for three funerals. Because God gave us freedom of choice, we can ignore the will of God, argue with it, disobey it, even fight against it. But in the end, the will of God shall prevail; because ‘the counsel of the Lord stands forever.’” (Ps. 33:11) We can find conviction or comfort in that verse depending upon our attitude about the will of God. God always has our best interest at heart, but He does give us the freedom to choose. We can choose to follow the principles and promises of the Bible or we can try to navigate life on our own. We, left to ourselves, will self-destruct every time. All we need is enough time and opportunity and the Devil will see to it that we get plenty of both. This book of the Bible contains one of the greatest love stories of all time. As grief and sorrow zaps the very life out of Naomi, God gives to her a daughter-in-law who becomes a source of help, hope, and happiness for her. She devotes herself to serving Naomi and her God. She goes back to Bethlehem with Naomi and begins to work in the fields of Boaz. The story is a familiar one as Ruth is a widower in need of a kinsman redeemer and Boaz volunteers to love, marry, and care for her the rest of her life. Oh how our God has a way of bringing beauty out of ashes. Out of this marvelous love relationship comes Obed whose grandson is King David. Of which we know is the very family that brings the Messiah, Jesus Christ into the world that He might pay for the sins of the whole world. Chapter two we find the illustrations and the manifestations of both faith and grace. Ruth exercised the faith to go to the field and believe God would provide that which they needed. Boaz, seeing Ruth in the field, enquires about her and then extends grace as he commands his reapers to allow her to glean of that which standeth not just what falls to the ground. I wish Christians today could see and experience the abundant life that God has prepared for them. If our decisions will follow in obedience to Christ, He has so much He wants to extend to us by way of grace. We not only were given everlasting life at our salvation, but we were promised an abundant life here on earth. We forfeit so much by our selfish living and sinful decisions. John 10:10 Jesus tells us that He came that “we might have life and that we might have it more abundantly.” Ruth is a love story that reminds us of God’s desire to give us joy unspeakable and full of glory. Ruth, a foreigner, is brought into the very line of Christ through the grace of God. She was married to a man who found joy in caring for her needs and giving her an abundant life. What a picture of our Savior. Will you submit yourself to His program and principles for the Christian?
Personal Requests:
• Lord, please help me to see your grace that you are so faithful to extend to me. Thank you for the promise that your grace is sufficient. I am so grateful for the way you bring beauty out of ashes.
• Lord, please help me to be willing to extend the same grace to those who are around me. Help me to recognize opportunities to be a blessing.