Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. – Ephesians 4:32
Written in “Glean Food for the Soul” are some thoughts on the kindness of Boaz towards Ruth. This example of caring demonstrates true friendship and there is no better friend we have than Jesus. When we become aware of how much God cares for us through His Son Jesus, we know we have someone that truly cares.
When you reach for the Son
You have that someone
Holy, Holy, Holy
Jesus is worthy
Each small act of kindness resonates across great distances and spans of time to form compassionate leaders, faithful employees, and harmonious families.
The harvest is ready and today we glean food for the soul. As you read Ruth 2, keep in mind about ways to be helpful to each other as neighbors helping neighbors. Striving to be accountable, thoughtful, and helpful to all in a personal way for the glory of the ONE who is merciful.
The immediate need for Naomi and Ruth was for food so Ruth went to glean a field which was a common way to help the poor. They were allowed to pick up the leftover grain behind the harvesters.
Boaz was the owner of the field in which they were harvesting. He was an encourager and was kind to Ruth. He explained to her that he had heard about what she had done for Naomi. He let her gather more grain than usual and told her to come back until all the grain was harvested.
Has anyone shown you special kindness?
I remember back in high school. My dad took a job and we moved to a town about two hours away. I’m reminded of a friend who took me in when I moved to this town. He introduced me to people and invited me to various activities.
I knew a few people because my parents had lived in the town growing up and I would visit my grandparents during the summers. I had known this friend from childhood because our parents were friends since they were in grade school. Our families would spend time together on weekends and even went on a few vacations together.
Thinking about today’s passage, there is no better friend we have than Jesus. When we become aware of how much God cares for us through His Son Jesus, we know we have someone that truly cares.
Lord, with You we have someone who cares. You love us and forgive us and this inspires us to forgive. We may go through extreme difficulty much like Naomi and Ruth but things will be alright. From the early morning through each night, You care and we know You will provide for our needs. Amen
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans. –Proverbs 16:3
As brought out in “Pathway to Dreams”, nothing is more important than following God’s will. Ruth knew she was following God’s will and we know today that she was right on target. We each need to work towards a future that gives us better aim and makes us feel important. Following God’s Plan for Us is the road map to get us there.
Like the song Thy Will by Hillary Scott & The Scott Family says about our journey, some things don’t feel good and things don’t always make sense but if we follow God’s will, we are confident that He has a mission in our life. All we need to do is have the resolve to carry it out to fruition.
This day with God will be amazing because we are totally focused on the purpose of this journey with organization, documentation, and affirmation. New thoughts are given, ideas are brought out, and a pathway to dreams without a doubt.
Reading today in Ruth 1, famine had hit Bethlehem in Judah so a family with two boys moved to the region called Moab. They felt like outsiders because they worshiped the ONE true God and the he people of Moab worshiped idols.
After some time, the father died so this left the two sons to help their mother. They eventually married girls from Moab. Ten years later, the sons died so this left their mother named Naomi along with her daughter-in-laws to fend for themselves.
At this point, Naomi faced hardship. Many today face hardship as they easily fall into the trap of believing God turns against them as bitterness sets in with the affliction and misfortune that they’ve gone through along the journey of life.
Naomi heard that the famine was over in Judah so she decided to head back to her homeland. The Moab daughters-in-law followed her but along the way, Naomi told them to return to Moab. She said that they were still young and said they could find another husband and that they had their whole life before them.
One daughter-in-law named Orpah returned to Moab but Ruth decided to follow her mother-in-law. She made the unselfish choice to follow as a true loyal friend to Naomi. The question must be asked, “Are we making a commitment to our family of believers”? Are we making choices for ourselves or do we put God first in our life?
There is nothing more important than following God’s will. Ruth knew she was following God’s will and we know today that she was right on target. We each need to work towards a future that gives us an aim in life that makes us feel important and there’s nothing more important than following God’s will.
Father God, we believe that You’ve given each of us a purpose. Each of us has got what it takes to know the mission in our life and the resolve to carry it to fruition. Your plan for us gives us each the power of the Holy Sprint and when we mix this power with the principles taught by Christ, we each can be led on this pathway to dreams and a future beyond our imagination. Amen.
Plant the word in your heart
And follow the Son of Man
With thoughts or ideas
In following God’s plan.
Not in the hard soil
Eaten by a bird
But in prepared soil
So the Word is heard.
Not in rocky soil
Since it can’t take root
For it last a short time
And can’t grow fruit.
But in good soil
Where worries stop
And ideas develop
To produce a good crop.
So share with others
Letting God do the rest
Since the Father
Knows what is best!
Thought – Jesus speaks in parables so listeners focus in on, retain and absorb the wonderful words of God. In the parable of the sower, the seeds are God’s words & the soil is the heart. The heart rich with God’s principles is most productive and leads to a…
