April 5 - God is Not “Ruth”less

Read today’s texts first: Ruth 1,2; Psalms 53,61; 2 Corinthians 5

MAXIMize YOUR DAY
If God can create our bodies with a brain connecting
to our trillions of cells, then He can relate personally
to each of the 7+ billion people on this planet!

I love these refreshing vignettes in Scripture. Within the dark and depressing era of the judges is this beautiful, uplifting story of Ruth. Sometimes, when we read of God’s judgments over entire nations, we may not realize His tender love for each individual. I recently had a conversation with a successful developer considering a major life-altering decision to pursue ministry. In illustrating how aware I believe God is in those personal moments, I talked to him about the trillions of cells in his body right now controlled by and dependent on his brain. Is it a stretch to imagine the God who created our bodies is capable of personally directing our lives, even though we are each only one of seven billion people on this planet? The story of Ruth proves that thought is true!

Our reading in the Psalms shows how personal God is: God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God (53:2); Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings, for You have heard my vows, oh God (61:4b,5a). God did just that for Naomi and Ruth - two poor, widowed women who had no real home, no source of income, no food and few prospects. But they knew there was one true God and they both chose to follow Him. God heard their vows and gave them refuge (2:12).

Naomi you could understand. She was too old to do anything else. Her options were limited and her only hope for survival was her family and her God. But Ruth was young and beautiful. She could no doubt find another husband if she stayed where she was. Yet she turned away from Moab, and the foreign gods her family served, to follow Naomi. Her speech, repeated so often at weddings, is a covenant of conversion: ...your people will be my people and your God my God (1:16b).

“Lord, You noticed Naomi and Ruth, and You cared personally for their needs. Ruth, a once-pagan Moabite, was accepted into the family of God and included in the very lineage of Jesus (Matt. 1:5). Thank You Lord, that You see me too, You’ve heard my vows, and I can find refuge today in Your arms!”