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.