Organizing the Inside – Day 290 Today’s Decisions, Tomorrow’s Generation

June 19, 2012 at 11:30 am · Filed under Encouragement, Faith, Inspiration, Love, Relationship, Wisdom, Women's Ministry and tagged: Book of Ruth, Lord, Naomi

3Now Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, 5both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband. 20“Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara,because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. 21I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”  Ruth 1:3-5, 20, 21

Even through hard times trust God.
Although Naomi expressed more than once that she felt the Lord had dealt harshly with her, she remained faithful and did not become bitter or angry. She’d not only lost her husband, she also lost both her sons and had a great deal to contend with personally. Naomi never questioned God and in the end her trust was greatly rewarded. Ruth, Naomi’s daughter-in-law was determined to stick close to her. Ruth could have returned to her own family, but she made the choice to submit and commit to her mother-in-law. Ruth’s commitment to her widowed mother-in-law was part of God’s big picture plan to bring Christ into the world.

Especially when you don’t understand, continue to make godly choices. Ruth had no idea what her future held. No prophet came along to prophesy to her about the royal lineage of David and what her role would be. Ruth chose to submit and committed her loyalty to a woman whose future did not look too promising. But Ruth replied… 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 1:16 (NIV) Her choice to submit to Naomi was unyielding. As Christian women in today’s modern society, with women’s liberation and much ado about equality very few women are willing to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, and submit to authority. Naomi’s wisdom provided protection and placed Ruth in the right place at the right time.  She didn’t understand the customs of her mother-in-law, but she never questioned what she was told to do. Although she was a Moabitess, she chose to worship and serve the true God. Ruth’s choices were long-lasting and life changing, but God was with her and she prospered in her obedience.  Not only did Ruth find love, she found it with a well-respected and wealthy man who truly loved her. Boaz was a good man, and he happily fulfilled his duty as Ruth’s husband faithfully.

There is something you must KNOW.
Sometimes we cannot see how God is going to work out our situation. Naomi’s life seemed finished to some, she’d been through so much and was approaching her latter years. When we go though things, sometimes for years it may seem like we are not on the winning side. Difficult situation, after difficult situation may leave you wondering why God has allowed such sadness to be your fate. You must take heart and realize that, (like Naomi) as sure as there is God there is hope. Be willing to keep serving God without questioning His motives. KNOW that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV) Naomi knew and did not question God. 14The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.” Ruth 4:14, 15 (NIV) For Boaz, Naomi and Ruth this was a win, win situation. They each made choices that honored God and as a result they were blessed by God, and were a blessing to each other. At the time they had no way of knowing the importance of their decisions. Years later the world would receive a Savior, from the line of David. The godly decisions made years earlier affected the course of many lives, through God’s hope and promise.

The story of Naomi and Ruth shows us how God blesses our:
Willingness to submit to authority
Willingness to commit to purpose
Willingness to serve Him
Willingness to honor Him
Willingness to trust Him
Sometimes, even when we don’t understand we have to trust God. We don’t know the outcome of our steadfast commitment to Him. Is your life different in any way by the choices of your great-grandparents? How many generations are affected by the choices we make today?

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