RUTH'S CHOICE

Today's Reading: Ruth 1-2

Key Verse: Ruth 1:16

But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God."

In the midst of the time of the Judges comes this beautiful love story. The book of Ruth is an account of one of the most moving acts of loyalty, and of the way that God honoured that love and loyalty. Even while evil and corruption seem so prominent in Israel, there were many honourable people who loved and served God.

That number included a Moabite woman who had married an Israelite and was now a widow. In a time when Israel was often in apostasy, she left her idolatrous religion to embrace the faith of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, and her mother-in-law Naomi. Ruth is a bright shining light pointing to the way of faith in the one true God. Through her marriage union with Boaz, she would become an integral link in a lineage that would alter history. Over 1,000 years later, Jesus, the Son of God, would be born in Ruth's adopted hometown of Bethlehem. From the lineage of Ruth comes the Messiah, the Christ, our Saviour and Lord. What an inspiring love story!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, Ruth and Boaz were your ancestors. You are 100% human and 100% God. During your time on earth as a human, You showed us how to live. You are our Mentor, our Example, and our Hero. Please give us grace to follow You more closely today than yesterday. In Your loving name we pray. Amen!

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