Join with me for the next few minutes.
As I leave with you a message at the lord has laid in my heart.
My thumbnail this afternoon is taken from The Book of Ruth,
Ruth chapter 1, verses, 16 and 17.
Now course, ruthless one of those lovely characters in the
Old Testament scriptures. Listen to what she said.
And Ruth said in threatt me not to leave thee, or to return from
following after thee, for whether thou goest I will go and
where the largest I will Lodge. Thy people shall be my people
and thy God, my God, where they die as well.
I die and there will I be buried the Lord do so to me and more
also, if aught, but death part the knee Ruth lived, in the land
of Moab. Just no one is Ruth the moabite
ass and in her day and generation.
The land of Israel was ruled by the judges.
Now, the times of the judges were characterised by a very
strange cycle. The people entered into
Rebellion against God. God and disobeyed his
Commandments and that led to their retribution and led to
their ruin. And in the days of their ruin,
the spirit of God moved among them and they were given that
spurred of genuine and true repentance where they Cried unto
God Express their sorrow for sin.
And then in those days, God raised up a savior and a
deliverer and the land, of course, enjoy dressed and, and
had plenty and prosperity. And then of course, The cycle
was completed. Now.
These were the times in which Ruth the more bait a scam on the
scene. What had happened was that in a
town called Bethlehem Judah. There was a family there, a man,
by the name of elimelech and Naomi and two sons Mal Doran and
Kelly on and during a farm on. And we don't know why the famine
Brigade and the House of Bread, but they left the land of Israel
and went to live in the land of Moab and whenever they were in
the land of War born in, Intending to stay a little while
in the purposes of God. Sadly eliminate died.
And then, of course, my loyal and Kelly on heard married, to
more bite, is women one called Ruth and the other called orpah.
Both of these sons died. So I want you to think of three
widows and then think of the impact that death hard and
bereavement and their family, think about their lifestyle has
widows and Naomi in the And year periods using warp, heard that
the Lord had visited his people and giving them bread and she
decided to return to the land of Israel.
And the three ladies said I hate and Naomi said to the two
daughters-in-law to Gordon returned to their people, and to
their gods and to leave her alone, for she had no more Sons
even to them so that they could marry.
Orpah, she went back and went back to her people and back to
your God, but we read in the scriptures that more Ruth the
moabite ass at cleave to her mother-in-law.
And she said, and treat me not to leave thee, she expressed to
her. That thy people will be my
people die. God my God, and where they live
us, die will live, and where they die as will.
I die. And of course, the Bible teaches
us that once Only realized that she was willing to go with her.
Then she left off speaking to her under both headed in the
direction of Bethlehem Judah. And I want us just to think for
a few minutes. As we remember Ruth.
Remember her decision. It was Ruth decision.
Thy people shall be my people, and thy God, shall be my God,
and Ruth. We believe, at this time, had
become a True Believer in the living and the true God.
And that she had entered into your personal relationship with
him by faith and she had made this decision or on the very
border of the land of Moab. Even as orpah was leaving the
side of her mother-in-law. She had decided that she was
going to go and live in the land of Israel.
Think not only of her decision, but think of her devotion, the
Bible tells us that they cleave to her mother-in-law's.
She, she played it with her and treatment, not the The devotion
of course, was displayed, and based of this decision.
And this devotion was toward her mother-in-law and to her
mother-in-law's people and to her mother-in-law's God and
I've, of course, was thinking of those words in the New
Testament. First Corinthians, 16 and 22.
If any man love, not the Lord, Jesus Christ, let him be
anathema, think of that word, enough of that means let him go
to the lowest hell and you see there's many who make a decision
for Christ, but that decision of course is not meant to be just
the principle of a moment. It's meant to be the principal
of a whole life and the just shall live by his faith and and
faith in God is Manifest itself in love to the Lord and it's
very, very important that we grasp that reality at this time.
Notice that Paul said, If any man love not the Lord, Jesus
Christ, the word Lord refers to his daddy.
Jesus refers to Humanity, Christ refers to his humanness
ministry, you have to believe in the Lord.
Jesus Christ. The whole Christ.
As revealed in the Bible of takes her to his Incarnation
that takes in his virgin birth a sinless life.
His atoning death as bodily. Resurrection his Ascension to
Glory has life of intercession is our greed, glorious high
priest. You can't divide Christ and you
can't say that. You love God and don't display
any Devotion to God's son. The Lord Jesus.
Christ, but not only think of Naomi's, decision and devotion
but think of her Steely determination.
She had made up her mind. She was not going to persuade
her to turn back to her Godless practices or her Godless people.
She wasn't going to turn away from the Lord, and go back to a
pagan lifestyle. She was very determined in her
heart and mind that she was going to go with her
mother-in-law Naomi. He even though Naomi had lost
much her husband her. Shamans probably lost her joy,
and her smile, because of Life circumstances, and life's
journey. And, and the you may remember
was a widow and a nothing to offer Ruth atholl.
There was no more sons that she could bear that, that Ruth could
whip for Amari in the process of time.
But of course, at transpired was that Ruth had made up her mind
that she was going to go into the land of Israel that she was
going to go and live in Bethlehem Judah with her
mother-in-law. And I think about
double-crossing. Chorus, I have decided to follow
Jesus. No turning back.
No. Turning back the cross before
me. The World Behind Me.
No turning back. No turning back and then think
lastly of roofs Delight Earth, of course whenever she come back
into Bethlehem. Judah with her mother-in-law
Naomi a strange thing happened. The spirit of God was at work.
Gordon Providence was leading. See, Ruth came to find food.
She came to find Greer, she came to Grass, and that's exactly
what you find. She went to work in a field.
Gleaning Barling for it was the time of barley Harvest and they
returned at a man called boas. He was a wealthy land over
wealthy farmer, but it also turned out that he was a near
Kinsman relative to ulema lack and of course, Naomi knew this.
And it was soon that Ruth was introduced to him.
In the end. They got married.
And God bless their Union with a little sun.
And that little boy was called. Oh bad.
Did you know who became his nurse Naomi beginners nurse?
And, of course, oh, bad was the father of Jesse, and Jesse
remember, was the father of King David so you can see how God
works, and it's interesting that Ruth.
The moabite ass is now part of the genealogy of Christ, hears,
God working, and wonders dries. Providing not only materially
For two windows at this time, but providing for them
spiritually, providing grease from pervading rest, and they
would urge you today to remember Ruth, remember her decision and
the decision was genuine because it was manifest and her
devotion. Her loaf was saying, and coupled
with that, love was a Steely. Determination to follow on and
follow through, despite hardship, and yet in the end
God, of course and wonderly provided provided food.
Food and rest and greatest even for them and their time of need.
I trust the day that you'll remember, Ruth and rejoice that
she is indeed. One of the loveliest characters
written into the scriptures concerning the woman of God.
Thank you for listening.