Tag Archives: Ruth and Naomi

Crossroads

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Ruth

In the Tozer devotional I read this morning, March 26, he talked about being separate from the world, quoting 2 Corinthians 6:17, “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.”

Tozer points out this is probably the least favorite command of many people. They want comfort, blessing, and peace. But they reject the “radical, revolutionary break with the world.” I see this in Ruth and Orpah.

The women were at a crossroad, facing the biggest decision of their lives. On one hand was the familiar. Home. Friends and family. It was a comfortable, blessed, and peaceful existence, predictable and safe.

On the other hand was the unknown, every step would take them further from the comfortable, blessed and peaceful familiar life, and closer to something completely new and different. They would have to walk by faith, not by sight.

One path would lead them to the gods they could see and touch. The other path led to the unseeable God they only knew through Naomi. We know Orpah turned her back on Naomi and walked away from Naomi’s God, toward the world she knew. Ruth turned her back on that world and followed Naomi and Naomi’s God toward the unknown.

Ruth started her faith journey. And it separated her from her world. She “came out from among them.” Have you?

Or have you pitched your tent at the crossroad? You’re not ready to totally commit to that faith journey, not totally ready to let go of the familiar. You know you should, but…

Let me suggest you can’t follow God standing at the crossroad. To truly follow Jesus you have to turn your back, walk away, come out and be separate. You have to deny yourself, die to self, submit to a God you cannot see, but a God who promises to walk with you every step of the way. It’s scary. It’s not always comfortable. And sometimes it’s hard to let go.

But letting go is the only way you can be a Jesus-follower. It is impossible to walk toward the east and west at the same time. It’s impossible to follow God and the world. And standing at the crossroad isn’t following Jesus.

I hope you read Ruth’s story today. Then I pray that you will take the steps needed to separate yourself from the world, and toward a glorious relationship with your Savior. The world offers nothing that compares to what God gives. Sure, it’s a walk of faith. But once you’ve traveled that road, you won’t ever want to go back.

Living in Poverty

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Ruth 2:1-7

What does it say that Ruth was so willing to go to work upon arriving in Bethlehem? She was an undocumented immigrant, penniless, homeless except for any property still in Naomi’s family name. But it doesn’t seem like she waited to see if the neighbors would provide, or if there was government assistance. She knew that if she was going to eat, she would have to go to work.

We could make this about financial poverty, food stamps and free healthcare. But I think there might be a more important lesson here.

Too many Christians are living in systemic spiritual poverty. They are taught to pray like their parents prayed, “Bless me, God. Heal me. Provide for my needs, God,” and expect spiritual hand-outs. But are they willing to do the work?

Do they spend quality time in God’s Word? Do they pray for more than themselves? Do they give, go, grow, obey. Are they the hands and feet of Jesus? Do they surrender their wills and have the mind of Christ?

James tells us that we might have faith, but if we don’t do something about it, our faith is worthless. I think that’s what spiritual poverty looks like.

The thing about living in financial poverty is it can become the norm after a generation or two. It can become a mind-set and an expectation.

The same is true for spiritual poverty. I guess what I see here in the book of Ruth is, God has a better plan. It’s a plan to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (from Jeremiah 19:11)

Are you living in spiritual poverty? Do you feel God isn’t hearing your prayers, not meeting your needs? Then, like Ruth, get to work. The blessings are just around the corner.

They Are Right In Front of You

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Ruth 1:19-22

Naomi was beaten down by circumstances, by a long and difficult walk from Moab to Bethlehem, and I believe she was beaten down by the things she told herself about her situation. With every step she took, I think she sunk deeper and deeper into self-pity and anguish.

I’m not throwing stones. She had reason to be sad and discouraged. The outlook was indeed bleak. But don’t you find that when you are in that state of mind, you can miss the blessings right in front of you?

Naomi was greeted by family and friends who worshiped her God, something she’d been without all those years in Moab. She was home, no longer a stranger in a strange land. And she had Ruth by her side, evidence of unconditional love and support. I think Naomi missed the blessing that was Ruth because she may have seen her as just another mouth to feed, someone to be responsible for when she couldn’t even take care of herself.

Namoi was so low, she didn’t want to be reminded that her name meant “pleasant.” Call me bitter, she said, because that was the cup she was drinking from.

I don’t know what you are going through right now. Just don’t let the circumstances cause you to miss the blessings right in front of you. You say you can’t see any? Then remember all the ways God has blessed you in the past. Read Psalm 103 and be reminded of his mercies that are new every day.

Every. Day.

Naomi will come out of this funk as we’ll see in the next few chapters. You’ll come out of your’s, too, if you allow yourself to recognize the blessings God has showered on you, if you hear Him promise to see you through even this.

Did you wake up feeling like Marah, bitter water good for nothing? I pray you’ll let God turn you into a Naomi, pleasant, gentle, and beautiful. Keep your eyes on Him who works all things out for the good of those who love Him.

Don’t miss the many blessings that are there right in front of you.