6 So she prepared to return with her daughters-in-law from the plain of Mo’av; for in the plain of Mo’av she had heard how Adonai had paid attention to his people by giving them food. 7 She left the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law and took the road leading back to Y’hudah.
8 Na‘omi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Each of you, go back to your mother’s house. May Adonai show grace to you, as you did to those who died and to me. 9 May Adonai grant you security in the home of a new husband.” Then she kissed them, but they began weeping aloud. 10 They said to her, “No; we want to return with you to your people.” 11 Na‘omi said, “Go back, my daughters. Why do you want to go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb who could become your husbands? 12 Go back, my daughters; go your way; for I’m too old to have a husband. Even if I were to say, ‘I still have hope’; even if I had a husband tonight and bore sons; 13 would you wait for them until they grew up? Would you refuse to marry, just for them? No, my daughters. On your behalf I feel very bitter that the hand of Adonai has gone out against me.” 14 Again they wept aloud. Then ‘Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye. But Rut stuck with her. 15 She said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her god; go back, after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Rut said,
“Don’t press me to leave you
and stop following you;
for wherever you go, I will go;
and wherever you stay, I will stay.
Your people will be my people
and your God will be my God.
17 Where you die, I will die;
and there I will be buried.
May Adonai bring terrible curses on me,
and worse ones as well,
if anything but death
separates you and me.”
18 When Na‘omi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.
(Complete Jewish Bible)Today's passage is about the transforming power of community. Naomi, a foreigner in the land of Moab, found herself widowed and her sons dead. She was literally left with nothing- no land, no status, no family, and no hope. She began her return journey to Judah, presumably to beg for a living. She had nothing to offer her daughters-in-law if they came with her other than suffering, poverty, hunger, and bitterness.
Yet somewhere in the middle of the pain and hopelessness, Ruth came to a place where she decided that being with Naomi in Judah was better than being alone in Moab. Something about Naomi or the God she worshiped captivated Ruth, and their relationship transformed them both.
Ruth made a commitment of faith that day: She would go where Naomi went. Naomi’s God would be Ruth’s God. Come what may, they would face the future together.
Sometimes we live under the notion that faith is only personal and private. It's just Jesus and me. It’s important to remember the scriptures tell the story of people walking the life of faith together. Faith is a commitment, and that commitment is meant to be made together.
Hymn for Today: "Fill Thou My Life" by Horatio Bonar.
1. Fill thou my life, O Lord, my God,
in every part with praise,
that my whole being may proclaim
thy being and thy ways.
Not for the lip of praise alone,
nor e'en the praising heart
I ask, but for a life made up
of praise in every part.
2. Praise in the common words I speak,
life's common looks and tones,
in fellowship enjoyed at home
with my beloved ones,
enduring wrong, reproach, or loss
with sweet and steadfast will,
forgiving freely those who hate,
returning good for ill.
3. So shall each fear, each fret, each care
be turned into a song,
and every winding of the way
the echo shall prolong.
So shall no part of day or night
from sacredness be free,
but all my life, in every step,
be fellowship with thee.
Thought for Today: And let us keep paying attention to one another, in order to spur each other on to love and good deeds, not neglecting our own congregational meetings, as some have made a practice of doing, but, rather, encouraging each other.
And let us do this all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Please pray: That many young people in Asia-Pacific will be called into Christian Ministry.
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