This is a time when everyone does what is right in their own eyes. This is a time when people have become tolerant of sin. This is a time when people worship individualism – whatever makes you happy. This is a time where Godly men and women need to step up and remind this world to remember what it means to be of noble character and integrity. Chivalry isn’t dead, ladies, and men there are women that are poised and hold themselves in integrity. It is those that exemplify godly character that we should resemble.
The Lord chooses men and women after His heart to fulfill His will. He chooses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chooses the weak things of the world to shame the strong. (1 Cor. 1:27) God uses the ordinary to complete the extraordinary. This is why I love the book of Ruth and each time I read it the Lord reveals to me new truths. Ruth’s story shows us what it means to be submissive and obedient to the Lord’s will, and it shows us how the Lord lifts up the humble.
Ladies most of you have been waiting and praying for that man the Lord is going to bring into your life and some of you have already found him and have married him. It is our worst fear that we have waited and kept ourselves for the man we love and have married to die not very long into the marriage. This is exactly what happened to Ruth and Ruth didn’t just loose her husband, but all the men in her life! Imagine how much time Ruth and Naomi must have spent in unceasing fervent prayer for their husbands lives, but God’s answer was “No my beloved ones…I have something else in store to use your lives for. I have chosen you Ruth to be in this anointed lineage.” As much as some of us find it hard to wait for a godly man now being single with no attachments or baggage, can you imagine how Ruth felt? I am sure in her mind she had come to the conclusion, why would a man want a widow with baggage, and on top of that being a foreigner, when he could have a young Hebrew virgin? All her hopes and dreams that seemed so sure and were so close within her grasps about her future came crashing down around her. Everything she held dear was taken from her, except God and Naomi.
The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21) Ruth never tried to gain anyone’s sympathy nor did she wallow in self-pity, but maintained a poise and serenity. Ruth placed her hope and satisfaction in the Lord. She was focused on the things the Lord had given her not the things she had lost…always operating in and motivated by love, as should we all as Christians. Though they were not blood related Ruth was bound to Naomi; they shared in deep sorrow, great affection for each other, and a predominant commitment to God. Ruth chose to cling to Naomi. The word cling is so powerful, it means to remain persistently or stubbornly faithful to, or hard to remove from. Ruth was willing to give up the possible future security and having children to care and look after Naomi; even though as women these seem like great sacrifices Ruth did not loose hope.
The wonderful thing we have been given is God’s peace that surpasses all understanding and it defies the circumstances that rage around us. Never will you know or find any other peace. Ask for it and you will receive it. You can find peace in the midst of chaos. It’s harder to surrender to what you can’t see, but when you do you are giving into something heavenly. When all is stripped away it leaves you and the Lord, trusting Him day by day, step by step. Christ will become the only future you see. Ruth was brought to that place of brokenness, humility, and vulnerability and the Lord met her where she was at, never leaving nor forsaking her.
Ruth lived in the time of the Judges when everyone did what was right in their own eyes. (Judges 17:6) But Ruth and Naomi desired to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord!
The Lord will sometimes strip us of everything we know, everything we treasure or find our security in, to allow us to know and realize all we need in this life is Him – our sustainer, protector, and provider. He will leave us with nothing to hold onto, but God. There are times in our lives when God seems to remain silent to our prayers, but that doesn’t mean He is not working through them. He is creating in you patience, trust, and ultimately strength. God has given us His promises and He always holds true to them. In our trusting in Him we must be content with that even though we do not know the how or when. Hold tight and cling to the Lord…continue to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all else will be added unto you. (Matt. 6:33)
There is so much more to come…
No comments:
Post a Comment