Man of Honor

So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, “No one must know that a woman came to the threshing floor.”Ruth 3:14

When God calls us to serve Him, He almost always tests us. The testing reveals who we are and who we need to become.

If you feel like you are being tested, then you probably are. Hebrews 4:15 says that Jesus became our high priest so that He would suffer the same temptations as us. Yes, temptation is a form of suffering. It can also be a form of persecution. And who we are in the dark is who we really are. Continue reading “Man of Honor” →

The Right Savior

And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. Ruth 3:12

Have you ever been presented with another way out of a situation that you knew was not right? How did you handle it? Let’s explore how Ruth handled this in her own life. Continue reading “The Right Savior” →

Waiting With Emotion

“Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask…” Ruth 3:11a

Waiting for God is one of the hardest parts of living. But choosing to believe that God will intervene can be even harder. Continue reading “Waiting With Emotion” →

Heart Over Appearance

“You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich.” Ruth 3:10b

How do you discern people when you first meet them? It is a great mistake to assume just because someone is charismatic and likeable that they are holy.

Boaz was astounded when Ruth approached him for marriage. He was older and as far as anyone knows had never been married. I do wonder if that had to do with the fact that his mother was Rahab, the famous prostitute from Jericho. Many would have judged and rejected him. Continue reading “Heart Over Appearance” →

Now Your Maid

And he said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am your maid.” Ruth 3:9

Who do you believe you are, when you are alone? Are you being held back by how you see yourself? Continue reading “Now Your Maid” →

Your Best Clothes

“Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes…” Ruth 3:3

The Bible talks about what we are wearing spiritually before the throne of grace. What are you wearing today?

Naomi goes down in history as the best mother-in-law ever. She loved Ruth, the wife of her dead son. In fact, she helped her to find a new husband in Bethlehem. How often does something like that happen? Continue reading “Your Best Clothes” →

Another Woman’s Provision

Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight. Ruth 3:2

The seeds of faith we plant now may seem small, but the harvest will be huge. Are you struggling with feeling like your works are insignificant?

When we read the book of Ruth, we almost solely talk about her mother-in-law. As Ruth married Boaz, she gained a new one, who was probably already dead. But that doesn’t mean that she didn’t have an impact on her daughter-in-law. Continue reading “Another Woman’s Provision” →

Under His Wings

Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down… “Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” Ruth 3:7b and 9b

Has God called you do something that makes you feel uncomfortable? Do you find it difficult to obey?

In Ruth chapter 3, Naomi tells Ruth to do something that could be seen as risky. She tells her to dress up and lie at Boaz’s feet, on the threshing floor, in the middle of the night. While their motives were good, others might not perceive them as such. It could be seen as the move of a prostitute and not a holy woman looking for protection. And Boaz knew that. She was taking a leap of faith by trusting Naomi, Boaz, and ultimately, the God of Israel. Continue reading “Under His Wings” →

Runneth Over

And at mealtime Boaz said to her, “come here, that you may eat of the bread and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.” So she sat beside the reaper; and he served her roasted grain, and she ate and was satisfied and had some left. Ruth 2:14

Every book of the Bible is connected with every other book in the Bible. The same is true with the book of Ruth, especially in regard to the Psalms.

I was struck when I was reading in Ruth 2:14 about how Boaz asked Ruth, a poor widowed foreigner, to share in the food from his table. I wonder if David thought about this story about his great-grandmother when he wrote in the Psalms “my cup runneth over.” As the youngest son of many brothers, he would understand what it felt like to be treated as unimportant; the least of many. Continue reading “Runneth Over” →

The Lure of Public Recognition

“All that you have done…has been fully reported to me…” Ruth 2:11a

Occasionally, I will meet someone who wants to serve others with no desire for recognition. This is such a rare trait and one that is supernaturally driven.

When Ruth arrived in Bethlehem, she knew that she had to get out in the field to provide food for herself and her mother-in-law, Naomi. Nothing in the book of Ruth even insinuates that she would want public recognition. Instead, we see quite the contrary. She did nothing to bring attention to herself. Continue reading “The Lure of Public Recognition” →