SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT FOR TODAY (September 5, 2013) RUTH 4:13:22 THE LORD WILL GLORIFY HIS FAITHFUL CHILDREN Memory Verse: JOEL 2:25 (NIV) I WILL REPAY YOU FOR THE YEARS THE LOCUSTS HAVE EATEN –THE GREAT LOCUST AND THE YOUNG LOCUST, THE OTHER LOCUSTS AND THELOCUST SWARM-MY GREAT ARMY THAT I SENT AMONG YOU! Many human employers fail their employees after they have worked for them. They fail to keep their promises and this leads to several labor unrests in many countries. This is because human beings are by nature fallible and are therefore liable to disappoint others. Many of us have been disappointed several times. But the God whom we serve is not like any human employer. He never fails or disappoints his people. He always keeps his promises to his people. His promises to bless those who serve him faithful have always been fulfilled. He showed it in the life of many people in the past and to Israel as a nation. In our lesson today, we see God demonstrating his faithfulness in the lives of Naomi and Ruth. This story should encourage all of us to continue in the Lord always, standing firm in all circumstances with the assurance that he will surely glorify us in the end (1 Corinthians 15:58). Even though Naomi and Ruth went through great loses and suffered hardships in life, they continued to remain in the Lord. Naomi lost her whole family and was left without any child. Ruth lost her husband and had no child. Both of them had no hope but they put their trust in the Lord and worshiped him faithfully. Naomi did not commit suicide because of her circumstances. Ruth did not fall into immorality to enable her get food to eat. Both remained true to the one who had called them from darkness into his light. In the end, God through Boaz, brought joy into their lives again. Apart from the continuous food supplies, Boaz also married Ruth to fulfill the joy of Naomi for her. Ruth and Boaz were blessed by the people who witnessed their marriage. The Lord had not finished with them. He continued to chase them with blessings. God gave Ruth a son with Boaz. This did not only fulfill the dreams of Ruth as a woman, but also Naomi. Naomi did not just become a grandmother to Ruth’s son; but also a mother. God restored to Naomi the joy she had lost since she lost her husband and two sons. God also restored to Ruth the joy she had lost since she lost her husband and crowned it with a son. This is not just a restoration but a glorification. The Lord Almighty glorified them after faithfully enduring hardships. Ruth received a double (husband and son) for all her troubles. This son, given to Ruth, Naomi and Boaz was not just an ordinary child, but an ancestor to the man Jesus Christ. What a faithful God we serve! MANY OF US HAVE SUFFERED A LOT AND CONTINUE TO SUFFER BECAUSE OF OUR ALLEGIANCE TO OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. BECAUSE OF OUR SUFFERINGS WE SOMETIMES THINK THE LORD HAS FORSAKEN US. BUT RUTH’S STORY SHOWS US THAT THE GOD WHOM WE SERVE NEVER FORSAKES US. HE IS ALWAYS WITH US AND ALWAYS SEEKS TO GLORIFY THOSE WHO REMAIN FAITHFUL TO HIM IN TIMES OF TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS. JUST AS GOD GAVE RUTH DOUBLE FOR HER TROUBLES, SO IS HE WORKING ON YOURS! YOU WILL SOON BE RESTORED! YOUR GLORIFICATION IS ON THE WAY. THEREFORE, DO NOT LOSE HOPE IN THE LORD. THE LORD ALMIGHTY WHO GAVE RUTH MORE THAN SHE HAD LOST IN THE PAST WILL SOON GLORIFY YOU. BUT JUST AS RUTH REMAINED FAITHFUL TO GOD, SO MUST WE WALK BEFORE HIM IF WE WANT TO ENJOY THE FULLNESS OF HIS BLESSINGS! THE WORD OF THE LORD!
Posted on: Thu, 05 Sep 2013 10:00:58 +0000