Oh, that you would choose life. So that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying Him and committing yourself firmly to Him. This is the key to your life. Deuteronomy 30:19-20
Promises of personal fulfillment and fruitfulness here on earth are yours if you allow God unlimited access to your heart, your love.
Love that gives everything to Him without asking for anything in return.
Love that’s only desire is to glorify Him.
Love that says, “I want your will done in my life.”
Naomi thought she loved God unconditionally and would never turn her back on Him.
Thought the Lord would protect her from the evil of the day and never forsake her.
Yet, when her world was crumbling down upon her. Naomi did not trust the Lord.
Nonetheless, the Lord did not desert her. Instead, He used a Moabite. A pagan. A non-Jew to restore Naomi’s trust in Him.
A Moabite who chose relationship rather than religion. A Moabite whose love would heal Naomi’s heart and return hope to her.
*****
The three women arose at dawn. Gathered the few possessions they could carry on their long journey to Bethlehem. They had not walked far when Naomi stopped.
“Don’t you want to go back home to your own mothers? You were kind to my husband and sons, and you have always been kind to me. I pray that the Lord will be just as kind to you. May He give each of you another husband and a home of your own.”
Naomi kissed them.
They cried and said, “We want to go with you and live among your people.”
But she replied, “My daughters, why don’t you return home? What good will it do you to go with me? Do you think I could have more sons for you to marry?
You must go back home because I am too old to marry again. Even if I got married tonight and later had more sons. Would you wait for them to become old enough to marry?
No, my daughters! Life is harder for me than it is for you because the Lord has turned against me.”
They cried again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth held on to her.
Naomi then said the Ruth, “Look, your sister-in-law is going back to her people and to her gods! Why don’t you go with her?”
Ruth answered, “Please don’t tell me to leave you and return home! I will go where you go. I will live where you live. Your people will be my people. Your God will be my God. I will die where you die and be buried beside you. May the Lord punish me if we are ever separated, even by death!”
When Naomi saw that Ruth had made up her mind to go with her. She stopped urging her to go back. Ruth 1:8-18
Why was Ruth willing to give up everything for another? Ruth’s heart was transformed.
This transformation did not occur overnight. It takes time to carve a heart of stone into a work of art.
Stone carving is as ancient as civilization itself. The sculptor begins by knocking off large portions of unwanted stone. The stone’s hardness and the amount of stone that must be removed dictates which tools are used.
Once the general shape has been formed. Other tools are used to remove smaller pieces of stone. Adding texture and details to the piece.
The final stage is polishing. During this stage the color of the stone and patterns in the surface are revealed. Sheen is added to the finished piece.
Like a sculptor, the Lord with painstaking care chisels aways issues of your heart.
That are damaging to your soul.
That silence His voice.
That nullify His presence in your life.
That weaken your ability to defend yourself against the devil’s destructive schemes.
That sabotage your Kingdom destiny.
Issues such as un-forgiveness. Loving someone or something more than you love Him. Un-repentance. Refusing to submit to His sovereign authority. Distrusting Him. Unfaithfulness.
Once these hindrances are removed. The Lord begins creating a heart that is worthy of the God who is calling you into His own Kingdom and glory. 1 Thessalonians 2:12
A resilient heart not defined or defeated by negative circumstances.
A hopeful heart that envisions a righteous and victorious life.
A faithful heart that relies upon the powerful promises of Almighty God.
A humble heart that graciously submits to God and His sovereignty.
A persevering heart that tenaciously pursues God and His Kingdom.
The final process, the polishing of your heart is an ongoing, eternal process. A process by which your heart becomes more and more a reflection of the Lord’s divineness.
Hearts of unconditional love. Compassion. Mercy. Boldness. Confidence. Encouragement. Faithfulness. Holiness. Justice. Honor. Wonder. Creativity. Gratitude.
*****
As Naomi gazed at tear soaked faces. She was reminded of a time long age when she foolishly believed the Lord had deserted her. A time when the loss of love was too much to bear, and the future held nothing but more pain and emptiness.
But all that changed because of the love of one woman. Ruth had reintroduced Naomi to God. Not the God of religion, but the God of relationship— of family.
Yes, there were tears on everyone’s faces. But this time they were tears of joy.
Both Ruth and Boaz were smiling and crying as they gazed upon the angelic face of their newborn son, Obed. Who would father Jesse. Who would father David.
*****
Yes, the Moabite was in Jesus’s lineage because all who accept God’s invitation to join His family. His gift of love— salvation are welcomed with open arms.
GO DEEPER
satan’s only hope of victory in this battle for your soul is to persuade you the Lord has abandoned you. satan would have you believe that life will be forever as it is at this moment in time.
BUT
Christ reminds you if you will persevere. Overcome. Conquer. There are promises. Blessings awaiting you here on earth and in eternity.
What unfulfilled promise have you received from the Lord?
Record a scripture that reminds you of God’s faithfulness. Repeat it when hopelessness or doubt rears its ugly head.
(Excerpt from I AM The Faithful Papa)
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