WHAT'S YOUR STORY? WEEK #3, DAY #4

"But Ruth replied, 'Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.'"

Ruth’s story is such a beautiful one. It is one that, as Christians, we should mimic in our relationship with Christ. Please read Ruth 1:16-18. We read that Ruth's story portrays a selfless love and whole-hearted commitment. Despite Ruth’s very differing culture, despite Naomi’s inability to provide another husband for Ruth, she tells Naomi "where you go I’ll go, where you stay I’ll stay." She makes a commitment to follow Naomi and to care for her despite the fact that Naomi has released her from this duty.

Ruth 2:10-12 (Please read those verses) helps us to understand how her earlier decision has reflected upon her. People in town have heard of her sacrifice. They have learned of her commitment and loyalty and these qualities have not gone unnoticed. In fact, these qualities seem to be some the qualities that most attract Boaz to Ruth. Because of her selfless actions Ruth is now in a position to remarry a relative of Naomi’s and to have a life in which she will be well cared for.

Finally, in Ruth 4:18-22 (please read those verses) shows us how Ruth’s faithfulness, not only to Naomi, but I must believe to that still, small voice of God that urged her to go and follow Naomi, has been used for the furthering of God’s plan. In those verses we are given the genealogy from Ruth’s son to King David. We have such an amazing opportunity to have the 20/20 vision of hind sight in this situation. Ruth’s faithfulness allowed the family line of Jesus Christ to be developed. Yet, again we get the opportunity through God’s living Word to be witnesses to a bigger plan than those involved could have ever imagined. Losing her husband, her brother in-law, father in-law and then watching her sister in-law return home were, I’m sure, not easy burdens to bear. Ruth went through some rough patches, some “why are you doing this God?” experiences, but she served the same big-picture God that we serve and she chose to use her past and the rest of her life as an opportunity to become a part of a big picture. I don’t know how you are feeling at this point, but first I am glad to be serving a big picture God and second I am grateful to be a part of that picture. 

This week's memory Verse: "Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things." (Ephesians 3:8-9)

Focus on this today: "But Ruth replied, 'Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.'"

Devotional written by Lindsey.

Time to dig in! Click HERE to download the Scripture Overview and Study Guide.