Ruth the Story of Love

 Ruth Chapter 1: 3-5,11,14-15,16-18

 Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons.  They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years,  both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.

.. But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands?

 At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her

“Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.”

 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.

The love of Ruth is explained by the scriptures that quote her words shown above - real love is kind, compassionate, and giving. It speaks to the thoughts people have about others and the environment in which they live. If someone is willing to give you unconditional love, then they are showing you the love that Jesus Christ has sown into their hearts.

Ruth’s sacrificial love is demonstrated by her loyalty to her mother in law Naomi and her faith in the God of Israel. She was willing to live with Naomi and to worship the true God of heaven. She was determined to give all that she had to help Naomi to survive and to be made whole.

What must that mother in law have been like to her daughter in law that Ruth was willing to stay by her side for the rest of their lives? Ruth must have seen a demonstration of unconditional love to understand what love truly is! Too many people have been living with what the world can give, because they do not know anything else that could be any better than what they already have. 

It was Ruth’s love for her mother in law and the life that Naomi represented that opened Ruth's heart to the possibility of living her life for the God of Israel. She grew up in an entirely different land and culture, yet she chose to reject those customs and religious practices to worship Naomi’s God. When you demonstrate God’s love to someone who has no knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you are showing that person what it is like to be a citizen of the Kingdom of God.

We are not all called to be evangelists, pastors or teachers, but if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are called to be ambassadors for the Kingdom of God. We live for the Lord, and so we should show His love through our actions. People will want to know more about Jesus because of the kindness, peace and joy that emanates from our hearts.

The Lord knows where you are in your life walk, and He adjusts His measures to introduce you to Him and His love for you. No one can take away His love for you, it extends even beyond this life and this world. You must  be willing to take a chance upon His love and His word to bring you new life, to receive the gift of salvation through our Lord, Jesus Christ.

If you are looking for peace and joy in your life, please prayer this Prayer of salvation:

Lord God,  I want to know what true love is, I want to live for you. I give you myself, my life, all of my talents and resources, Lord I just want to be with you. I repent of all of my sins, and I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross so that I may receive the gift of salvation through Him. Jesus, please come into my heart right now, I believe that I am saved! AMEN

Hallelujah! You are saved! Welcome, new citizen of the Kingdom of God…

It Is Better To Speak With A Person Then To Speak At A Person

Luke chapter 12:32-34

Do not be afraid, my little group of sheep. Your Father wants to give you the kingdom.

Sell all your possessions and give to the poor. Have purses that never wear out. Save your riches in heaven. They will never disappear, because no thief can get near them. No insect can destroy them.

For your love will always be in the place where your wealth is.

Have you ever felt that people are talking to you, yet they are not talking with you? Did you feel like they accepted your words, but that they failed to understand the meaning behind your words? What would happen if you tried to live according to God's words, and yet you went through your whole life not really understanding the meaning behind His word? The result will always be confusion.

Some people have a legalistic viewpoint of the bible. People who live by the law shall surely die by that same law. Some people will never believe that anyone can qualify to be a part of the Kingdom of God unless they are 'good' people. Can you see the trap that is being laid at their door? They believe that good works are on the same level with the mercy and the grace of God.

Newsflash! No one is good in all the earth, not the youngest of us or the oldest of us. The youngest don't know enough about themselves and the world to know the difference between right and wrong, and the oldest, if they are wise, will never declare themselves 'perfect' or 'good' because they can remember every single mistake that they made in their lifetimes. We can never be good enough to qualify for greatness or holiness in the eyes of God.

So, what can we do to become citizens of the Kingdom of God? First, we must come to terms with our human weaknesses and failures and ask the Lord to forgive us so that we might accept His gracious gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. Then, we must repent and ask the Lord Jesus to come into our hearts, so that His Love and His Spirit will become a part of our lives. We will be transformed into the image of God's Dear Son, Jesus.

The unbeliever speaks to God or about God as if He is a strange or interesting concept. You can talk about a person and yet never really know that person at all. This is why gossip and negative talk about other people is not tolerated by God. God wants us to speak positively about ourselves and other people. If we cannot say something positive about someone, we should pray for them, but we have no right to judge them.

The Lord doesn't need more chaos and strife in the world, He needs people who are willing to speak words of love and encouragement into the atmosphere. Love is far better than money, power and influence. Love can transform lives and it can save this generation.

If you want to have a real relationship with someone, you must take to the time to speak with them. You must be willing to open your hearts to them and to express kindness and compassion to them. This is the type of relationship that the God of this universe wants with you. He has everything that He could ever want or desire except a close relationship with the ones who do not know Him.

Once you become a citizen of the Kingdom of God, you will always have Jesus in your heart, and you are never alone. You can speak to God in your heart and your mind, and He will speak back to you. God never speaks at you, He wants to speak with you. When you accept His Son Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you have been welcomed into the family of God, and you become His son or daughter, and His friend. What a Glorious existence to be in the presence of the Lord Jesus forever and ever!

Ultimately, our goal should be to show the love of Jesus to everyone else in the world. Many are seeking the purpose and the reason for their existence, and when you show them the love of Christ Jesus from your heart, they will begin to understand the truth about their own existence, for only the Holy Spirit knocking upon the door of their hearts can help them to see what they have been missing for all of their lives.

If you would like to Speak with the God of this universe and have a relationship with Him, repeat this Prayer of Salvation:

Lord Jesus, come into my heart right now. I am so sorry for all of my sins and I ask for your forgiveness. Please, give me a new heart and a new mind that thirsts and hungers to live for you and not just for myself. Jesus, I make you my Lord and Savior, and now I believe that I am saved, forevermore. AMEN