Happy Thursday. It's April 6, 2023. Some call it Maundy Thursday to commemorate Jesus washing the disciples' feet and commanding us to do the same. The word "maundy" is from the Latin word meaning "to command." God gives us another command here in Ruth...to "obey." Ever wonder why? I'll give you a hint; it's connected to reward. Read on …
Today's Reading:
Ruth 3,4; Psalms 64,65; 2 Corinthians 6
Scripture
"The women said to Naomi: ‘Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer …’ Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him. The women living there said, ‘Naomi has a son.’ And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David." (Ruth 4:13, 16-17)
Observation
In a million years, Ruth could not have known what God had in store for her.
- Did she realize how closely her obedience would tie her to David, Israel's greatest king?
- Would she ever recognize how, through all the horrible circumstances in her life, her "Kinsman-Redeemer" would be the Messiah?
- Could she ever comprehend how close she was to royalty when gleaning in Boaz's fields?
You and I can't see through to the future. Looking forward is often cloudy and muddled except for one thing: daily obedience. Obedience is like a sonar. It will not remove obstacles. It will only help you navigate through them. Ruth stands out in an ancient world where begging women were not always connected with virtue. She remained true to God's instructions and her mother-in-law's intuition until Boaz recognized her faithfulness: "You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor ..."
Application
How often have I been close to regal results but bailed out too early? Sitting with Ruth, her counsel refreshes my soul, and her narration has stirred my heart. So I will re-enlist my heart to obedience. I will seldom know in advance what the outcomes will be of the decisions I make today. But I must obey, regardless of what fears assail me. Obedience is the guide to optimum futures, and today I have been fortunate. I have had the opportunity to travel in the company of Ruth; a beggar turned regal. How heartening it is to have a friend recount an experience in her past so that I am emboldened to walk into the fullness of my future!
Prayer
Dear Father: I know You have my best at heart, and all You ask is step-by-step obedience. I renew my heart today. Please forgive me for the many times where I have balked and bailed. Thank you for being so patient with such a surly saint as me. And thank You for Your obedience at Calvary when all of hell was against You. May I take heart today, knowing that all of heaven is for me!
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