Made for This MomentSample

MADE FOR THIS MOMENT: RUTH

Choices

WARM-UP

“But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. 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 I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.’ When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.”--Ruth 1:16-18

ON THE PITCH

Have you ever made what seemed to be an insignificant decision only to find out later just how significant it was? That's what we see happening in the book of Ruth.

There was a famine in the land of Bethlehem, so Elimelech and Naomi took their two sons and moved approximately 35 miles away to Moab, where there was no famine. Elimelech died, and the two sons married local women named Orpah and Ruth. But the sons also died, leaving Naomi without a husband or children in a foreign land. Hearing that the Lord had come to the aid of his people and provided food, Naomi and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home to Bethlehem.

Naomi urged the two women to stay in Moab with their culture, language, and families. Orpah decided to stay, but not Ruth. In the moment of choice, Ruth stated, "Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God."

At that moment, Ruth declared her loyalty to the God of the Jews and her mother-in-law.

She chose to leave behind the familiar and the comfortable, not knowing what the future would hold. Her choice was made out of love and loyalty for her mother-in-law. That choice, at that moment, changed her life and found its way into the annals of Christian history. She had no way of knowing that the God she now chose to follow would bless her in amazing ways. She married and had a son. She became the great-grandmother of King David and then found herself in the lineage of Jesus.

We don't know much about how she came to that decision, but we know she acted out of love and loyalty. God had prepared her for that moment.

Do you believe God has worked in your life, preparing you for this moment? The seemingly insignificant choices you make may prove to be quite significant. Make your choices out of love and loyalty to the God who has showered you with His love and is eternally loyal to you. You never know what blessings await you.

EXTRA TIME

Ruth 1-4; Matthew 1:1-6; 7-16

PRAYER

Father, may I make even seemingly insignificant decisions in a manner that will honor and glorify You. Fill me with Your wisdom as I face choices, big and small, and give me the faith and courage in the moment to decide wisely.