Commitment

“But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” Ruth 1:16 NLT

To me, the love transpiring between Ruth and Boaz is one of the most beautiful love stories written. I have to confess though, at first, I presupposed the story to be one of a family left in hopelessness after all the misfortune they endured – and in the end, had a typical Hollywood happy ending. But, with all things God, there is always something more. Something deeper. Something beauteous…Ruth’s story is ultimately one of redemption, where God takes a girl no one knows and makes her an essential part of the world’s history. It’s an in-depth Biblical look at our love relationship with God. And it all started with a family fleeing a famine.

Famine prompted Abraham to go to Egypt and led Joseph’s family being reunited. In the Old Testament, famine was a tool God used to move His people into a path of promise. Don’t begrudge life’s detours, sometimes they are God’s shortcuts.

We meet Ruth, a Moabite (and a widow), on the dusty road with her mother-in-law Naomi. With a heavy and broken heart, Naomi still blessed Orpah and Ruth and set them free from their responsibility towards her. But it was Ruth who committed, not only to follow Naomi but to accept God as her true God. She had no idea what was waiting around the corner, but she knew that she wanted to follow God. I believe, in the ten years she saw her mother-in-law serving and worshipping God, being faithful even during the hard times, had an impact on Ruth and she was willing to commit to God and leave all the deities of her nation behind.

Commitment is not just accepting Jesus. Commitment is making the choice daily to worship and serve God on whichever road we are on. It is possible for God to accomplish amazing things both for now and eternity, if we will only commit towards Him, not only in our feelings but also in our actions. He has a happy ending already written for you even more beautifully than the story of Ruth.

Ruth Relationship Advice: Ruth’s commitment towards Naomi teaches us commitment towards God.

Prayer: “Father, today I commit myself to You. I want You to be my God just like You were to Ruth. I commit to a deeper relationship with You, my Father. You know my circumstances and You know my heart. Thank You, Father, that I can faith that life’s detours are You shortcuts to where I need to be. Amen”

Written by Pastor Iriza for

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