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Date: Sun, 05 Sep 2010 11:24:54 +0000
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- -- Sunday, 9/5/10 -- TRUE LOVE -- Ruth 1-4 [1 Update]
http://groups.google.com/group/takeaminute/t/d07a43a4b58cc9fb
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Topic: -- Sunday, 9/5/10 -- TRUE LOVE -- Ruth 1-4
Url: http://groups.google.com/group/takeaminute/t/d07a43a4b58cc9fb
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From: "J.R. & Bonnie Ricks" <j-r-and-bonnie@dogwoodministries.org>
Date: Sep 04 05:09PM -0500
Url: http://groups.google.com/group/takeaminute/msg/1d3e7344272a3e31
Take a Minute is a daily devotional ministry of
Dogwood Ministries, Inc.
If you need prayer. contact our partners in ministry.
SJ Ministries - Ministry of Prayer <http://sjministries.co.uk/>
Or simply send your request to SJMinistries@aol.com
All other requests, please see the end of the devotional
for Dogwood Ministries addresses
TRUE LOVE -- Ruth 1-4 NIV
Oh, what a bright light the book of Ruth is in the midst of the dark days of
the Judges of Israel. The relationship between Naomi and Ruth is such a
beautiful example to us of what a relationship should be. Naomi was Ruth's
mother-in-law. Historically, that very fact should make her perfect
material for a comedy routine. But Naomi is by no means someone we should
laugh at. Instead, we should look at her life and that of Ruth and the
beautiful relationship between these two women. and learn from them.
First of all, Naomi was a woman of God, and it showed. She was living in a
pagan foreign land, in the middle of a time of idolatry, anarchy, and
violence - but none of this dimmed the light of God in her life. She was a
shining witness for God everywhere she went. This fact showed very strongly
in her selfless attitude toward her daughters-in-law. Having lost her
husband and both her sons to death, she was in a frightening situation.
God's law said that the nearest relative of a woman's dead husband should
care for her. But Naomi was living in Moab, outside of the Promised Land.
And she had no way of knowing whether any of her relatives back in Bethlehem
were still alive. Considering the unrest of the times, she probably had
good reason to doubt that she would find anyone living when she returned
home.
And yet, Naomi put the needs of her two daughters-in-law first. Making the
decision to go home, she told Ruth and Orpah to return to their families
where they would be safe and cared for. We know that Naomi loved Ruth
deeply, and it's probably safe to say she felt the same way about Orpah,
although we aren't told one way or another. But in any case, Naomi was
willing to give up the companionship of these two young women, along with
the security having them along offered, in order to allow the young women to
return home and be safe and fed. As we know, Orpah did go home, never to be
heard about again. Ruth, on the other hand, understood selfless love. It
was a part of her, also.
The Christ-like love of these two women for each other is a glowing example
of how you and I should deal with each other... understanding that love,
true love, is not an emotion. Rather, it is a conscious commitment of your
will to do whatever is in the best interest of the other person, no matter
how you feel about it or how it might affect you. That is love. That is
the love Jesus has for us, and that we must have for each other.
"Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will
be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there be
buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but
death separates you and me." Ruth 1:16-17 NIV
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