Ruth 2:8-9 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. 9 Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.”
Boaz told her not to go in another field. Why? Because there would be ample provision with him.
Boaz said to keep close to his young women and go after them. Why? Because they knew Boaz and they knew his fields. Following those who knew would provide security and direction.
Boaz told the young men to keep their distance. Why? He was providing protection for her.
As we try to manage our way through this life, creating our own chaos and adversity, choosing what seems to be right in our own eyes – there is one who offers to be a Boaz to us.
No matter if you are a foreigner to the family of God or feel unworthy.
No matter what others may say or what you have done.
Jesus calls to you NOW.
What should be our response? Let us learn from Ruth.
Ruth 2:10 "Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground..."
She showed the ultimate posture of humility, respect and honor. This is not only a posture of thankfulness, but one of submission to his authority and direction.
If she leaves his field, can Boaz guarantee she will have ample provision?
If she leaves his field, can Boaz guarantee she will be secure?
If she leaves his field, can Boaz guarantee she will be protected?
If she leaves his field, can Boaz guarantee she will receive grace from someone else?
The relationship that would guarantee all that Boaz promised is to remain in his presence and follow his direction.
Guess what? The same is true with God.
The BEST place to be, in spite of what the world and your mind tells you, is in the presence of God following His instruction. Why? Because He loves you more than you can fathom.
Each choice we make in opposition to God's instruction is choosing to leave His field.
Isn't it time we stop blaming God for all that is wrong in our lives and come back to His field?
Saturday, July 23, 2016
Thursday, July 7, 2016
My own eyes...
"In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons." Ruth 1:1
"In the days when the judges ruled." If you read through the judges, you will see every man did what was right in his own eyes. The book of Ruth begins in a land of adversity. As is true today, we experience some adversity because we are in a fallen world; however, some adversity is culturally imposed and some adversity is personally chosen.
Culturally, we do what is right in our own eyes.
We have somehow arrived at the place where innocent children are legally murdered, yet we are fined or arrested for imposing on the rights of innocent animals! (60 million since 1973 – the population of Italy) Right in our own eyes.
We have rebelled against God's design by legally distorting marriage for the sake of our sin, yet borrow from God's design to have children in those relationships. Right in our own eyes.
Most recently, we have declared you can be whatever gender you feel like, without considering the impact, privacy or protection of the population. Right in our own eyes.
With each decision, we celebrate our sinfulness by imposing it on our culture and thumbing our noses at God in rebellion.
Personally, we do what is right in our own eyes.
We know that God says sex is permitted only in the context of marriage between one man and one woman, but we make exceptions and excuses for our behavior. Right in our own eyes.
We know God leads us to be good stewards over everything He has allowed us to have, yet we still gamble and play the lotto for the sake of our entertainment. Right in our own eyes.
We know God says to forgive others, yet we choose to whom that will apply. Right in our own eyes.
We know God says to stop using harsh talk and foul language, yet we do it anyway. Right in our own eyes.
We know God says to rid ourselves of sexual immorality and anger, but we ignore Him. Right in our own eyes.
We know God says NOT to be divisive, a gossip or slanderer, but we choose our way. Right in our own eyes.
We know God says to not be unequally yoked in a relationship, but we let our feelings override God’s instruction. Right in our own eyes.
We know what God's word says about alcohol and drugs, but we argue for our personal rights instead of choosing to honor God in our lives. Right in our own eyes.
Therefore, we are also living out what is right in our own eyes culturally and personally.
Now, for the spiritual challenge...
How is it possible for the church to grow more like Christ and behave more like Christ when we choose to live in opposition to Christ? (If you are courageous, personalize this question)
Renewal and transformation cannot, and will not, occur until we personally turn from what we have deemed right in our own eyes.
"In the days when the judges ruled." If you read through the judges, you will see every man did what was right in his own eyes. The book of Ruth begins in a land of adversity. As is true today, we experience some adversity because we are in a fallen world; however, some adversity is culturally imposed and some adversity is personally chosen.
Culturally, we do what is right in our own eyes.
We have somehow arrived at the place where innocent children are legally murdered, yet we are fined or arrested for imposing on the rights of innocent animals! (60 million since 1973 – the population of Italy) Right in our own eyes.
We have rebelled against God's design by legally distorting marriage for the sake of our sin, yet borrow from God's design to have children in those relationships. Right in our own eyes.
Most recently, we have declared you can be whatever gender you feel like, without considering the impact, privacy or protection of the population. Right in our own eyes.
With each decision, we celebrate our sinfulness by imposing it on our culture and thumbing our noses at God in rebellion.
Personally, we do what is right in our own eyes.
We know that God says sex is permitted only in the context of marriage between one man and one woman, but we make exceptions and excuses for our behavior. Right in our own eyes.
We know God leads us to be good stewards over everything He has allowed us to have, yet we still gamble and play the lotto for the sake of our entertainment. Right in our own eyes.
We know God says to forgive others, yet we choose to whom that will apply. Right in our own eyes.
We know God says to stop using harsh talk and foul language, yet we do it anyway. Right in our own eyes.
We know God says to rid ourselves of sexual immorality and anger, but we ignore Him. Right in our own eyes.
We know God says NOT to be divisive, a gossip or slanderer, but we choose our way. Right in our own eyes.
We know God says to not be unequally yoked in a relationship, but we let our feelings override God’s instruction. Right in our own eyes.
We know what God's word says about alcohol and drugs, but we argue for our personal rights instead of choosing to honor God in our lives. Right in our own eyes.
Therefore, we are also living out what is right in our own eyes culturally and personally.
Now, for the spiritual challenge...
How is it possible for the church to grow more like Christ and behave more like Christ when we choose to live in opposition to Christ? (If you are courageous, personalize this question)
Renewal and transformation cannot, and will not, occur until we personally turn from what we have deemed right in our own eyes.
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