I shared some reflections a few weeks ago. Although I've been a Bible learner and disciple of Christ for many years, I do not yet have this walk figured out. It's filled with missteps and mistakes, and even when I re-read some of my prior posts, I can see how I could have represented the truth more fully and adequately. It is humbling to know that God still brings truth even in our tiny bit of understanding.
Today, we start a Bible study I've refused to write for months. It is a chapter out of my dark soul and a testament to the bright communion God showed me over a long, swarthy night. I know I need to sit still and get some of the messy, messy work God has graciously done down on paper. I dread it and welcome it all in one.
We’ve reached our final redemptive chapter of this book. When we first met Ruth, she was a poor widow who was fresh to the faith (representative of a Gentile new believer). Since then, she has gleaned handfuls of purpose in Boaz’s field, been covered by his goodness, and now approaches a wedding day. Though not all stories have endings this romantic and buttoned-up, may it serve as a deep-seated reminder that our Savior always writes the final chapter.
We opened the book of Ruth last week and were reminded of the power of fresh beginnings and the desire God has to call us home, even when we’ve made choices of unbelief and disobedience. I hope you made that new beginning choice, and if you did, I’d love to hear from you and guide you through those next steps so you don’t turn back to Moab (the world). Feel free to write me or message me through social media.
We’re going to learn in Ruth 1 how Ruth’s decision was a picture of God’s grace. Ruth was a Gentile (non-Jewish) woman who didn’t know the Lord; yet, despite her difficult trials and heartache she clung to Naomi and was determined to accompany her (verse 18). Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi is a parallel picture of how we are to respond to Christ by saying, “I will not leave you, Lord. Wherever you go, I will go.”
