Ruth 1:16-17
But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”
Tag: Praise God/Follow God Despite Circumstances
In our lives we have times of extreme suffering. It s in these times that others can or can’t see our faith in God and our love for Him. Naomi is not the best example of someone who lived with Godly joy in their hearts, despite circumstances. She was so bitter at life she will even changed her name to Mara ... it means bitterness. In the above passage we see Ruth making a great expression of loyalty. Ruth is committing to Naomi’s God (Yahweh) even when, at the time, Naomi is not committed to God. Our living in the light of God’s grace is an amazing testimony to others. We have to believe that, at one time, Naomi was a shinning light to Ruth. Ruth saw something that made her want to cling to Naomi and her God. Note the following:
“The people of God are the most excellent and happy society in the world. That God whom they have chosen for their God is their Father; he has pardoned all their sins, and they are at peace with him; and he has admitted them to all the privileges of his children. As they have devoted themselves to God, so God has given himself to them. He is become their salvation and their portion: his power and mercy and all his attributes are theirs. They are in a safe state, free from all possibility of perishing: Satan has no power to destroy them. God carries them on eagle’s wings, far above Satan’s reach, and above the reach of all the enemies of their souls. God is with them in this world; they have his gracious presence. God is for them; who then can be against them?”
Excerpt From: Edwards, Jonathan. “Selected Sermons of Jonathan Edwards.” iBooks.
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But Where would Ruth have known this however? Her husbanded died, as did her father-in-law and her brother-in-law. Naomi was not a picture of good cheer!! Yet, something happened to allow Ruth to commit to God. When we have faith in God we give light to others.
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