Scripture: Ruth 3-4.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Ruth 4:13-17 (NLT)

13 So Boaz took Ruth into his home, and she became his wife. When he slept with her, the Lord enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son.

14 Then the women of the town said to Naomi, “Praise the Lord, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel. 15 May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!”

16 Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast. And she cared for him as if he were her own.

17 The neighbor women said, “Now at last Naomi has a son again!” And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

The story of Ruth is such a heartwarming story showing, among other things, 1). How Naomi and Ruth stuck together after the death of their husbands; 2). How God responded to the prayer of Naomi and Ruth and provided work so that they could care for themselves; 3). How God provided a husband for Ruth, even though he was much older and 4). How God provided a child for this couple that would ultimately become a part of the lineage of David, who wrote the book of Psalms, and the lineage of Jesus, the Savior of the world. The names mentioned in this story book valued the decisions made in accordance with what they felt was God’s will for their lives, in spite of the worldly implications of all that may have been apparent. The point is that when we surrender our lives wholly and solely to God, we have no idea at the time of why He directs us in some of the paths that we go or the decisions that we make, but as in this story, I am convinced that we must first of all depend on God to direct us and lead us, secondly we must listen to His voice and obey Him – even if we don’t understand why He is permitting certain things or directing in certain ways. However, we must realize that ultimately these same God driven events and decisions could lead to things that will impact eternity for many. Therefore, I believe that we must realize the importance of listening closely to what God is saying, and we must follow His commands – as only He knows about those things beyond the very moment in which we breathe. We just never know the impact of what our decisions today will have eternally in the lives of others, so let’s be attentive to God’s direction and will for us.

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, so often I wonder what impact little old me could have on those that I come in contact with. I have been reminded that it’s not about me, but all about You, and because my decisions could have an eternal impact on my family, my church and/or those that I come into casual contact with, therefore it is ultimately important that I listen closely to Your voice, and follow Your instructions closely, so that Your perfect will may be accomplished in all that I do or say, and that ultimately souls will be impacted for the kingdom because of my obedience to You. Eternal implications result from decisions that I make today or things that I say today, so may I always be a good listener, obedient follower and careful but diligent example of You in everything today. Thank You Father for working in the lives of Naomi, Ruth and Boaz, and thank You for continuing to work in and through me.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
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