Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria Grace for Living Devotional Wednesday May 8, 2024

 

Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria 

Grace for Living Devotional  

Wednesday May 8, 2024

TOPIC: RUTH, THE MODEL DAUGHTER IN-LAW

BIBLE READING:

RUTH 1:10-18

10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. 11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands 12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; 13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown would ye stay for them from having husbands nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me. 14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. 15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. 16 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: 17 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. 18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

KEY VERSE:

And Ruth said, intreat me not to leave thee for whither thou goest, I will go and thy God my God where thou diest, will I die. Ruth 1:16-17

MEDITATION:

The relationship between Naomi and Ruth remains one of the best models every young lady intending to make a good success of their marriage is encouraged to emulate from the bible reading of today.

The story is told that Naomi lost her husband and two sons while in the land of Moab where her family had escaped to due to famine in Israel. When news came that the famine had abated, Naomi got ready to return to Israel. When she painted the bleak picture of her future life to Orpah and Ruth, her daughters-in-law, the former dropped back while Ruth chose to go all the way with Naomi. God honoured Ruth's selflessness commitment and loyalty to go to a land and a people she never knew. While in Israel, Ruth became the wife of Boaz, a wealthy kinsman of her late husband, and had a child named Obed, who, according to scriptures was the grandfather of David, the earthly lineage of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The story of Ruth in scripture has become a model for daughters and their mothers-in-law in the church and families. It is instructive to note that Ruth chose to go all the way with Naomi despite being told unambiguously that such a commitment and loyalty had zero benefit or expectations. It was a leap of faith that defies all logic and explanations.

How far are you ready to push your loyalty and commitment with zero benefit in view

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, teach me genuine loyalty and commitment.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

1 Kings 19-20; John 2