December 7 – Ruth 2:1-13
Faith. If ever there was a woman of extraordinary faith, Ruth would be that woman. Born in Moab with no clue who the God of Israel was, she married an Israelite and took his faith as her own so fully that even after her husband died, leaving her childless, she loved his God so much she left her home and followed her poverty-stricken mother-in-law back to Israel. She faithfully worked the fields to feed herself and the grieving mother of her dead husband. And Ruth’s amazing faithfulness was noted in that small town of Bethlehem so that even a rich landowner, Boaz, had heard of her and been impressed. Of course, they end up getting married and it’s just one of the sweetest happy endings in the Bible. But today, we celebrate a faith that held steady, even though Ruth saw no blessing for a long time from the hand of the God she chose to serve. From this obscure woman would come a great- grandson who would be promised that Messiah, Jesus, would come from his line. I love Ruth! I am so glad she is honored even in the genealogy of Jesus. She belongs there.
My verse: Ruth 2:13 “I hope I continue to please you, sir,’ she replied. ‘You have comforted me by speaking so kindly to me, even though I am not one of your workers.”
My response: Those words of Boaz brought comfort and encouragement to Ruth – a stranger in the land. Lord, help me to encourage – to see the down-trodden and want to serve and bless them.
5 Minute Selah Moment – sit quietly and remember when you first accepted Christ as Savior. Whisper a prayer of gratitude for that sweet moment in time as you still your soul for a little while.
