Ruth 2:19-23 (NIV)
19 Her mother-in-law asked her, “Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!” Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working. “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz,” she said. 20 “The Lord bless him!” Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. “He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.” She added, “That man is our close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers.” 21 Then Ruth the Moabite said, “He even said to me, ‘Stay with my workers until they finish harvesting all my grain.’” 22 Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It will be good for you, my daughter, to go with the women who work for him, because in someone else’s field you might be harmed.” 23 So Ruth stayed close to the women of Boaz to glean until the barley and wheat harvests were finished. And she lived with her mother-in-law.
Who is looking out for you? Sometimes, it feels like it is you against the world when nothing is going right. Have you ever had a time like that? I have. Lately, there are more things to do than time in which to do them. I am one who likes to say yes to everything but I cannot do it all. My brothers in Christ have been concerned for me that I am spreading myself too thin. And it is true. I have limited bandwidth and things I had not foreseen have been added to my plate. Brandon came to live with us one year ago yesterday. Let’s just say that was not my plan but God’s! 2 Corinthians 4:7-11 (NIV) says 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. There is a lot against us but there is someone incredible who is for us. So who is your kinsman-redeemer? Mine is my Father in Heaven!
Ruth followed Naomi back to Bethlehem when neither of them knew how they would survive. They had nothing. Ruth was following the harvesters picking up what they missed hoping to have enough to eat that night. Ruth had adopted the faith of Naomi. They were destitute but hopeful. And God was with them each step of the way. He led Ruth to Boaz’ field. He showed Boaz her inner beauty. The Lord works everything for the good of those who love Him. Naomi loved the Lord. Her faith rubbed off on to Ruth. That love continued through them to David to Jesus to you! God loves you! Stop to take that in. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. That is how important you are. Your Redeemer lives! Now, you can live in Him!
Father, thank You that You are our Redeemer! No matter the challenges we face, you are there for us. Thank You that You call us Your children and, as a good Father, You are there to pick us up when we fall. Soften the falls for us. And, by Your Spirit, guide us in Your ways. In Jesus name we pray.