Ruth: And All These Things Will Be Added Unto You

My Bible reading for today was the entire book of Ruth. I have read it many times before. Today, I read it in the New Living Translation. I feel like sometimes reading an old text in a different translations lets me experience it freshly. Something hit me this time as I was reading it. I don't believe Ruth left Moab simply as an act of loyalty to Naomi. She left her country and her people because she was a true convert to the God of Israel. She wanted to stay in this life of the worship of Yahweh. Ironically, her mother in law Naomi--wanted her to stay so that she could have a life with another husband and children. It never occurred to Naomi that her pledge of devotion to follow her back to Bethlehem would be the means of her salvation. Naomi had felt so burned by the death of her husband and sons, she couldn't imagine that God had any good in store for her. She had lost faith in the God of her hope.

What's beautiful to me in this story is to see this an as true example of God's promise to His people.  Jesus tells us in the gospels two principles which play out beautifully in this story of Ruth. The first is in Matthew 6:33. Jesus tells us: So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? these things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. What a beautiful promise this is. And this is exactly what happens for Ruth. She doesn't think about or even consider these things. She makes an impractical decision, based on her devotion to Naomi and her God.

Which brings me to my second observation. Jesus tells His disciples in Luke 17:33 If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it. Isn't this the exact picture of Ruth? She let go of her life, of what looked like a hope for a normal future by staying with her own people. Naomi encouraged her to think practically about her future. But she didn't. She surrendered her life to a covenant promise.

The ways of God and the promises of God aren't Old and New Testament. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. If we want to experience God's faithful love in our lives, let's take a lesson from Ruth. She became the great-grandmother of King David, from who the Messiah was born. God is serious about keeping His promises to those who seek Him. In her wildest dreams she never would have imagined that her faithful promise to Naomi and her God would result in her being in the lineage of Christ. It reminds me of what Paul says in Ephesians 3:20-Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (NLT)  What would my life look like if I didn't cling to it in all its security, but really sought first the things of God? Something for me to really ponder. I would love to see God write such a redemptive story in my life as well.