“... Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16)
The book of Ruth tells the wonderful story of a loyal daughter-in-law who steadfastly clung to her mother-in-law, Naomi. She refused to leave her even though the other daughter-in-law stayed home in Moab. Ruth voiced her commitment in order to convey the depth of her sincerity in staying on with Naomi. She was determined to follow her in all aspects of life.
In fact, that action drew the attention of her prospective kinsman-redeemer as this poignant love story unfolded. Her self-sacrificing love drew her, although an alien, into the lineage of King David and ultimately to that of Christ. Her willingness to “lose out” gave her great gain. From the believer’s perspective, we will never really “lose out” whenever we make commitments with the interest of the Lord in mind. He will make it work out for good.
Ruth’s model in the Old Testament is a good example of the New Testament teaching in Mark 8:35-37, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” In forsaking her all to follow Naomi back to her homeland, she was incorporated into the godly lineage of David and ultimately of Christ, becoming the great grandmother of David with her marriage to Boaz, her kinsman-redeemer.
Other women incorporated into the lineage of Christ included Rahab the prostitute as well as Tamar the daughter-in-law of Judah. Yet God in His sovereign grace included them in the godly genealogy. They had reflected a simple faith and total abandonment of themselves to the God of Israel.
In what regard do we hold God and His calling? Do our prayers and actions convey such faith and absolute trust?
Comentários