Day 25: {because} You love me?

He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”  Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse.  And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.”  They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.  Ruth 4:15-17 esv

{because}  –  Because God… I am not hopeless… redemption is available…

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow…  I’m thinking of the song we sang in the church I sometimes attended in Perrine, Florida, and where my husband and I later married.  Remembering this gospel message in a simple song still brings tears to my eyes.  The truth, so simple and yet the difference between eternal life or death – a life of hope or a life of defeat and despair.

Because I love you… Max Lucado

As I ponder again, the true story in God’s word of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz along with the people of Bethlehem in Judah, I am reminded of this dear children’s book.  Though many years ago I bought it for our youngest, adventure-seeking son, I am the one who frequently goes back to be reminded of the truth contained within.

Just a quick summary to whet your appetite and then maybe you will go and read Because I love you for yourself.  Shaddai, the fatherly carpenter built a beautiful village for all his children and around his village, he built a stone wall.  Within the walls of his village was everything his children would ever need – including safety.

However, the curious child Paladin found a hole in the stone wall.  Paladin questioned Shaddai about the hole.  It was troubling to the curious child that Shaddai had purposely placed the hole in the wall, and though it was Shaddai’s desire the children remain within the stone wall, Paladin did what I would do.  He chose to investigate the world on the other side of the hole in the wall.

I’ll go no further, but leave the rest to your imagination and hope you will find the book one day…

However, I see in the book of Ruth a similar story… my interpretation of course, as I read God’s word in prayer and through the filter of my own life experience, my personality traits, and my life choices to this point.

I see a village in which God’s people safely resided together.  Yes, the land was given over to a famine and yet God allowed it so that His people would see Him as their provider and not the land.

A family – Elimelech, his wife Naomi and their two sons – left the village to go to Moab.  They dwelt together in a foreign land outside God’s safe boundary.  It was a land where people did not know the One True God and worshipped idols of their own handcrafting.

Naomi, the only one of her family remaining alive, heard the good news of God’s grace and provision on His people back home in the village.  It was to her heart, I think, the sound of her good Shepherd calling her name, “Naomi, come home…”

She packed up and returned home with her daughter in law Ruth by her side.  The women were welcomed back to God’s village where they were cared for and where the favor of God rested upon them by way of the near kinsman, Boaz.

Because God provided a kinsman redeemer Ruth gave birth to Obed, who was the father of Jesse, who was the father of David – King David… and through the lineage of King David, by the grace of God, our Savior, King Jesus, was born of the virgin, Mary.

 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 1:14 niv

Ponders:

Because He lives, I can face today… and tomorrow.

• In His presence, I will always safely be as long as I choose to remain in the safe pasture my good and loving Father has created for me.  He has boundaries for me, and within His boundaries of love, I live in complete freedom.
  • Do you agree?
  • Reading God’s Word in Ruth and Psalm 23 what do you glean regarding God
    • as our good Father?
    • safe pasture?
    • our responsibility and our freedom to choose to stay close to our Shepherd?
    • what about the way back to Him?  Is it time to turn around at the sound of His voice?
  • Our good Father, our Shepherd comes to look for us when we wander off.  He is calling our name, and He will find us.  Will we turn to put our eyes on Him and follow Him home?  Maybe we are so broken we will need Him to carry us home…  He will surely do it if we fall into His arms.
  • What other scriptures is Holy Spirit bringing to mind as you ponder?  Will you write His words to you in your journal?  Would you be willing to share some insights with us for our edification?

Eyes on Jesus… you’re Shining.

~ Lisa