Love is Prompted by God

Scripture: Ruth 2:3

So she departed and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.

Insights:  It boggles my mind the number of people who go through this life thinking everything is coincidental or accidental and not providential.  In my opinion all one has to do is read the Bible and see the story of God connected through the ages and doubts as to His intentional involvement would be dispelled.  As we read today’s verse, however, we see this notion that Ruth thought things were just happening to her.  From Ruth’s perspective she knew she needed food, therefore, she told Naomi she was going to go glean from someones fields.  In today’s verse we are told she “happened to come to” a field belonging to Boaz.  I described it this way to FBCBG: “Many of you travel past multiple churches to get to FBCBG.  Why do you think that is?  It is because God has divinely guided you here for a special word from Him to you this morning.”  Boaz’ field may have been the first one Ruth came to.  It is also possible it was the next one or even the one after that one.  The point is God is the one guiding her steps.  She set out on a plan to glean from a field.  It was God’s plan and prompting for her to stop at Boaz’ field.  It was because God had planned from the foundations of the world Ruth was to be a part of His plan of redemption for the world.  Beloved, God has a plan for your life.  He desires to use you in specific ways to reach His objectives.  It is my prayer you slow down enough in life to let Him speak to your heart.  It is my prayer you understand He is providentially prompting you to make decisions that honor Him and bring glory to him.  Live your life in total surrender to Him and watch Him do amazing things through you as you live intentionally for Him.

Questions:

1.  Do you see the situations in your life as coincidences or providential appointments?

2.  When was the last time your recognized God’s promptings in your life?

Prayer: Father, all too often I am to busy to recognize Your hand of guidance.  Help me to slow down enough and to be sensitive enough to You that I recognize Your activity in my life.  Amen.

Love is Pragmatic in Nature

Scripture: Ruth 2:1-2

Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.  And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after one in whose sight I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”

Insights:  As we look at today’s verses keep in mind what we have learned these past two weeks about Moab and Israel.  Also keep in mind the fact Naomi and Ruth are widows and do not have anyone to take care of them.  These truths set the scene for today’s verses.  These women are desperate for food.  Now levitical law instructed the Israelites to not harvest everything thing off of the crops.  The reason God gave this provision was to help take care of the poor and sojourners.  Ruth pragmatically approaches Noami and tells her, “Mom, I am going into the fields because if I don’t we are going to starve to death and that won’t be a good thing (poetic license).”  Those words were not what the Scriptures record, but in essence this point is the gist of their situation.  There are some who are negative toward a pragmatic approach to life.  They often quote the phrase, “The end justifies the means,” which is not at all what pragmatism means.  For example, Hitler stated the aryan race was his end and the means by which he was going to justify his effort was through the extermination of the Jews.  This kind of logic is sinful and not pragmatic, but rather psychotic.  One who is pragmatic is capable of assessing the situation and making a logical decision to help advance the cause, mission, objective or need.  Pragmatic people are not content to just sit around and do nothing as situations begin to deteriorate around them.  We at FBCBG are also not satisfied with the status quo of our current situation.  As a result, the Strategic Planning Team has submitted to you a vision which is pragmatic in nature to lead us into better days of ministry.  It is my prayer we at FBCBG will take the same honest evaluation of our situation as Ruth did with hers.  I also pray we will have the same kind of boldness as Ruth to act on our convictions in order to usher in these better days.

Questions:

1.  What is the objective for which you are working?

2.  What is your commitment level toward your goal?

Prayer: Father, You tell us in the gospels that the one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for Your kingdom.  May I be resolute to press hard after You and Your will.  Amen.

Love does not ALWAYS Respond Appropriately, Part 2

Scripture: Ruth 1:19-22

So they both went until they came to Bethlehem. And when they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was stirred because of them, and the women said, “Is this Naomi?”  She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.  “I went out full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?”  So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the land of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

Insights:  Yesterday I told you we would specifically be looking at FBCBG and the vision proposal as it relates to this subject of not always responding appropriately.  The Strategic Planning Team (SPT) presented a very thorough presentation regarding our future.  As far as we can tell it is biblically grounded and kingdom motivated, but as I shared Sunday there are four groups of people in any change environment.  Technically, there are five groups, but the first group is the SPT which was the innovators who join when it is new, and we represented 2.5% of the people.  The second group are early adopters who join when they perceive a benefit and they represent 13.5% of the people.  The third group are the early majority who join when there is a productivity gain and they represent 34% of the people.  The fourth group is the late majority who join when there is plenty of help and support and they represent 34%.  These first four groups represent 84% of the people and most of these willfully join the vision at varying times.  There is a fifth group known as the laggards who join only when they have to and they represent the remaining 16%.  Of these laggards about 6% will join with great reluctance and a good bit of kicking and screaming, but there is about 10% who adamantly refuse through the entire process to jump on board willingly.  These are literally drug to join because they have no choice.  The majority has moved them to adopt this new initiative.  It is my personal opinion those who fall into the laggard group are acting like Mara.  They do not want to work for better days and more fruitful ministry, and as a result, they make quick and rash statements that become attached to their very identity and are unwilling to relinquish that poor attribute.  These laggards can even at times become hostile or intentional about trying to sway people to their line of thinking.  When it comes to our vision and direction, the reason I am bringing this up in today’s blog is because I want to encourage you to go home and pray about the vision the Lord has set before us.  Let FBCBG be the exception to the laggard role of adoption.  May we all desire to be a Ruth and be determined to see God do great things in our midst.

Questions:

1.  Which of the four adoption categories do you fall under?

2.  What will it take for you to become an early adopter or majority and will you tell the Strategic Planning Team?

Prayer: Father, I pray you will bless the vision we since You have given to FBCBG.  May we quickly join You in Your work and may You be brought glory.  Amen.

Love does not ALWAYS Respond Appropriately, Part 1

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Scripture: Ruth 1:19-22

So they both went until they came to Bethlehem. And when they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was stirred because of them, and the women said, “Is this Naomi?”  She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.  “I went out full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?”  So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the land of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

Insights:  Over the next two days we will see love does not always respond appropriately.  In our verses today we see Naomi and Ruth arriving back in Bethlehem.  Notice the passage states the city was stirred because of them.  This concept of one being stirred in this context is one of excitement.  In other words, there are times people are stirred to anger or rage, but that is not the case here.  These women had not seen Naomi in ten years.  These were childhood friends and relatives.  They were excited Naomi had returned home.  Naomi, however, puts an abrupt halt on the fanfare of the town.  She declares her name is now Mara, which means bitter.  I would say to you this statement was an inappropriate response to the women because it cast blame and perpetual indictment on her situation.  She does not know the future, but she has banished herself to this life of pain and depression and it did not have to be this way.  I think the writer of the book of Ruth also understood this reality because this sentence is the only time in which the writer calls her Mara.  From that point to the end of the book Naomi is always called Naomi.  Beloved, everyone of us make inappropriate decisions to varying circumstances in our lives.  Ever since sin entered the world, we are a people prone to short sightedness and rash decisions.  The truth, however, is we don’t have to be subject to this reality.  We can choose to respond like Ruth did in the preceding verses and say, “I am determined to walk with Jesus” (obviously Ruth did not know of Jesus at this time in history and I am being figurative in nature).  Tomorrow, we will pick this theme back up and see how it relates to our vision proposal at FBCBG.

Questions:

1.  When was the last time you responded to a situation in a less than stellar manner?

2.  As you have reflected on that situation, was there any way you could have prepared yourself in advance to have responded in a more positive fashion?

Prayer: Father, forgive me of those times in which I have responded inappropriately.  Help me spirit to fully walk and trust Your Spirit’s guidance.  Amen.

Love Determines to go through Tests, Part 2

Scripture: Ruth 1:14-18

And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.  Then she said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”  But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.  “Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.”  When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.

Insights:  On Monday you may have read the blog post title, Love Determines to go through Tests and then read about Ruth’s conversion and said, “Where is the test?  To what did she determine to do?”  Well, you will also notice it was listed as part one.  It is my faith presupposition we cannot holistically pilgrimage through this world without the Lord God.  The only way to walk with God is to know God and to have a personal relationship with Him.  This relationship comes through receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.  Once you have entered into this love relationship, then you are equipped by Him to walk this journey out.  Keep in mind all we mentioned Monday about Ruth’s conversion.  She was walking into enemy territory, but as the passage states, she was determined to go with Naomi.  I shared with our church when we make this kind of decision it does not mean it is going to be safe or easy, but it is going to be worth it.  FBCBG is presently praying over the vision which was presented to them on November 15.  They are in the process of deciding this very concept in their lives.  They are asking themselves if they are determined to walk this journey of faith out no matter what may come.  It is my personal prayer FBCBG will surrender with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength to the vision presented to them.  I pray they will have the determination of Ruth.  I pray we will share Jesus no matter what happens to us.  I pray we stop losing ground to the enemy and begin shining the light of Christ to our community to such an extent we are radically affecting lives.  May God be brought glory for our determination to follow after Him.

Questions:

1.  Are you determined to follow after the Lord?

2.  What is the one thing that would prevent you from fully turning things over to the Lord?

Prayer: Father, following You is scary.  I also know whatever the future may hold, whether good or bad in this life, it is worth it to walk faithfully with You.  Grant me courage and faith to say yes to You.  Amen.

Love Determines to go through Tests, Part 1

Scripture: Ruth 1:14-18

And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.  Then she said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”  But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.  “Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.”  When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.

Insights:  REAL worship is driven by our love for God.  As we work ourselves through the book of Ruth we are going to see characteristics and attributes about love.  This week we are going to look at a high form of love and a low form of it as well.  The high form is seen in two ways as it pertains to Ruth and can be observed in today’s verses.  These verses are probably the most famous portion of the book of Ruth because they are so often used in wedding services.  These words, are in my opinion Ruth’s conversion experience or testimony.  She is telling Naomi she is willing to go wherever she is called to go.  She is willing to stay wherever she is told to stay.  In many ways this thought pattern is descriptive of the children of Israel’s wilderness journey.  When the cloud or fire moved, the people moved.  When the cloud or fire stopped, the people stopped.  It was a sign of true dependence on the Lord.  We can see this pattern also exemplified by Paul on his missionary journeys.  The true characteristic of conversion is seen in the next two parts of Ruth’s speech to Naomi.  Naomi’s people were to become her people.  This statement is an allegiance to the Israelite nation.  In our conversion we become citizens of heaven.  We are only strangers and sojourners here on earth.  The next sentence declares Yahweh is going to be her God.  When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior we are saying the very same thing.  The final part of Ruth’s declaration is her willingness to die for this faith.  She will be buried with Naomi.  We must be willing to give our very lives to for our worship to Jesus.  Tomorrow we will look at a second aspect of this high form of love.

Questions:

1.  Have you received the free gift of salvation from our Lord Jesus Christ?

2.  If you have not, what is holding you back from receiving this amazing grace?

Prayer: Father, thank You so much for saving me from my sin.  I long for the day when I will see You face to face and say, “Thank You!”  Amen.

Love Makes Hard Decisions

Scripture: Ruth 1:11-13

But Naomi said, “Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?  “Return, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I said I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight and also bear sons, would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is harder for me than for you, for the hand of the Lord has gone forth against me.”

Insights:  Up to this point in our journey through this passage we have been looking at the difficulty of loving from one side of the equation.  There is another side as well and it deals with hard decisions we have to make in times of risk.  Notice with me in today’s verses Naomi makes the hard decision to send her daughter-in-laws back to their home land.  Now we know Ruth does not go back home, but in our verses today we see Naomi make very good arguments as to why she and Orpah ought to return.  If you think about this story, would it have been easier and better for Naomi to have let these two women join her back in Bethlehem?  The answer would have been yes.  They could have both gleaned fields.  They both would have been present to help comfort Naomi.  Naomi knew, however, it would not have been best for the girls.  We know the story, but at this moment in time, there was no guarantee Ruth would have found a husband.  She was a foreigner after all from a country that was often hostile to Israel.  Who would have wanted to marry these ladies?  As a result of all this information, Naomi makes the hard and sacrificial decision to have her daughters return to Moab.  Beloved, we must be willing in our lives to look at the evidence and make the hard decisions at times in life.  From a leadership perspective, sometimes these decisions are not going to be well received by the masses.  If they are the right decision, then you must, because of the compelling nature of love, make that hard decision.  It is not easy.  If it were easy, then everyone would be known for making these hard decisions.  Let us strive to seek after the Lord and to hear His voice when it comes to the decisions we need to make in life.  Then, let us make wise and godly decisions no matter what and honor the Lord in the process.

Questions:

1.  Have you ever had to make a hard decision and knew others would not like it?

2.  Are you willing to make hard decisions no matter what the ramifications may be if it is the right decision?

Prayer: Father, the world is desperate for leaders who will follow hard after You and make hard decisions.  May You grant me the courage to be one of those leaders.  Amen.