Ruth 1:16,17

Ruth 1:16,17 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. Wow! Ruth was such a kind, loving daughter-in-law to Naomi. Naomi had no one to take care of her, and Ruth knew it. So Ruth made the commitment to stick with Naomi. Ruth turned her back of her pagan religion, her ungodly relatives, and her familiar past life. She made the commitment to Naomi, to Naomi’s land, to Naomi’s people, and to Naomi’s God. Ruth even said that she would die and be buried there in Naomi’s land! What a wonderful commitment! What a picture of commitment that we should make to God! We should stick with God until we die! God should be everything to us, just like Naomi was to Ruth.

Ruth 1:8

Ruth 1:8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. Naomi felt bad. But she was glad to be returning to her relatives and to her homeland. And she was looking out for her daughters-in-law. It would be hard for them to leave their kinfolk and to go to a strange country. Naomi was going home, but Ruth and Orpah would be leaving home. Naomi reminded the two ladies that they had been faithful wives to her two dead sons. But the trip back to Bethlehem in Judah was unnecessary for them. Naomi told them to go back to their father’s household and do the best that they could. Orpah cried, kissed Naomi, and returned to her relatives. But Ruth did not. Ruth stayed with her mother-in-law. Tomorrow we will see Ruth’s love and hear what she said to Naomi.

Ruth 1:6

Ruth 1:6 Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread. The famine was over and there was fresh rains and good crops and plenty of bread back in the land of Israel. But instead of all five of Elimelech’s family going back, only three of them set out. Only the women folk were alive to obey God and go back to the Promised Land. Can you imagine how sad Naomi was as she packed her things to go back? I am sure she was excited to think of seeing her relatives once again, but she was going back without her husband and sons. It was a bitter-sweet day. Too bad the men had not obeyed God. They might have been alive if they had. Should we obey God? Yes we should. Should we obey God even in difficult times? Yes we should – especially in difficult times. Is God able to take care of us and meet our needs? Yes He is. Don’t ever forget it. God will meet our needs. Always.

Ruth 1:1,2

Ruth 1:1,2 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. The Children of Israel were given the Promised Land to live in by God. But there was a famine in the land. Elimelech was worried that his family would not have enough food. Let me ask you some questions: Did God know that there was going to be a famine in the Promised Land of Israel? Yes He did. Did God command the Israelites to be faithful and trust Him and to remain in the land that He had given to them? Yes He did. Did Elimelech disobey God in taking his family out of the Promised Land and into the land of Moab? Yes He did. Let’s read Ruth 1:3 and see what happened: And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. I think God punished Elimelech for his disobedience. But remember, God does not always punish us immediately when we disobey Him. But, by his poor example, Elimelech had taught his sons a sad lesson. They disobeyed God too. Let’s look at Ruth 1:4 And they (Mahlon and Chilion) took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. The boys became young men and married pagan wives who did not know the God of Israel. But something else bad happened. Let’s read Ruth 1:5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. Poor Naomi lost her husband because he did not obey God, and then she lost both of her sons because they did not obey God either. But, God did not forget Naomi in spite of her husband’s and sons’ sins. God was at work, as we will soon see. God is always at work. Always remember: God knows what He is doing!

II Peter 3:18

II Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. Every day we should be more and more like Jesus Christ, our example. We should be kinder every day. We should be more loving every day. We should know more and more about Jesus every day. Everything that we do should be to honor Jesus. We should be kind and loving because Jesus wants us to be. We should be like Him.

II Peter 3:10,11

II Peter 3:10,11 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, When Jesus comes back in the air to catch us away with Him into heaven, most people will be surprised. None of the unsaved people will be looking for Jesus’ return and many Christians will not be looking for His return. He will come just as a thief comes. Does a thief leave you a note telling you to be ready to be robed on next Wednesday night? Of course not! He sneaks in when you least expect him. And Jesus will return when we least expect Him. And since he is coming back to judge or to reward, how then should we live? We should live expectantly. We should be ready for whenever He returns!