Going with God 与神同行
Dexu Xia
Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Ruth 1:16
Today's Scripture Ruth 1:6-17
Today's Insights Throughout Scripture, we find statements declaring the necessity of commitment to God or Jesus (Deuteronomy 6:5; Mark 8:34). Ruth’s statement of commitment is remarkable, however, because in addition to a commitment to her mother-in-law Naomi, she includes a commitment to Israel’s God: “Your people will be my people and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16). This is surprising because she’s a Moabitess and a foreigner. Her declaration echoes that of Rahab (Joshua 2), the Roman centurion (Matthew 8:5-13), and the Canaanite woman (15:21-28). All these foreigners expressed confidence in or a commitment to God. Their acceptance shows hints of His love for the whole world.
Today's Devotional In The Courier, a film inspired by true events, the main character, Greville, is confronted with a difficult decision. He learns that a close friend is going to be arrested and will likely face a grueling imprisonment. Greville can save himself from the same fate if he flees the country immediately and denies association with his friend. Moved with compassion, Greville loyally refuses to leave and is imprisoned, suffering the same agony as his friend. Neither man betrays the other. In the end, Greville is released a broken, but true and faithful companion.
Naomi needed a friend like that. When her husband and sons died, Naomi faced destitution and a long journey to her homeland. Naomi told her widowed daughter-in-law Ruth to remain in Moab and find a new life for herself (Ruth 1:8-9). Ruth responded, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go” (v. 16). Ruth loyally accompanied Naomi to a foreign land and helped provide for their family. Ruth’s faithfulness transformed their broken family into an incredible legacy. Much later, her great-grandson David would become king of Israel and was called a man after God’s own heart.
Facing suffering with others is daunting. But if we surrender our own will and seek God’s strength, He enables us to love people in extraordinary ways. In His power, we can choose to say, “Where you go, I will go.”
Reflect & Pray
Who around you is walking a difficult road? How can you choose to walk alongside that person?
Thank You, Jesus, for never abandoning me. By Karen Pimpo
你往哪里去，我也往哪里去；你在哪里停留，我也在那里停留。路得记 1:16
今日经文：路得记 1章6-17 节
今日心得：宣告对神、对耶稣委身非常必要，在整本圣经中，我们都能找到这样的经文。（申命记 6:5；马可福音 8:34）。然而，路得的委身宣告令人瞩目，因为除了对婆婆拿俄米的委身之外，她还宣告对以色列的神委身：“你的国就是我的国，你的神就是我的神”（路得记 1:16）。这令人惊奇，因为路得是摩押女子，也就是外邦人。她的宣告与喇合（约书亚记 2 章）、罗马百夫长（马太福音 8:5-13）和迦南妇人（15:21-28）的宣告彼此呼应。所有这些外邦人，都表达了对神的信心或委身。上帝对他们的接纳，彰显了上帝对全人类的爱。
今日灵修 在根据真实事件改编的电影《信使》中，主人公格雷维尔面临着一个艰难的抉择。他得知一位好友即将被捕，并可能面临严酷的监禁。如果格雷维尔立即逃离该国并否认与朋友有任何联系，他就能避免同样的命运。格雷维尔心怀怜悯，忠贞地拒绝离开，最终被囚禁，承受与朋友相同的痛苦。但两人都没有背叛对方。最终，格雷维尔被释放，成为一个破碎却又真实忠诚的伴侣。
拿俄米需要这样的朋友。丈夫和儿子相继去世后，拿俄米陷入困境，不得不长途跋涉回到家乡。拿俄米告诉她丧偶的儿媳路得，让她留在摩押，为自己寻找新的生活（路得记 1:8-9）。路得回答说：“不要催我离开你，也不要催我回去。你往哪里去，我也往哪里去。”（路得记 1:16）路得忠贞地陪伴拿俄米来到陌生的国家，并帮忙养家。她的忠诚将破碎的家庭转化为宝贵的遗产。很久以后，她的曾孙大卫成为以色列的王，被称为合神心意的人。
与他人一同面对苦难需要勇气。但如果我们放下自己的意志，寻求神的力量，祂就能帮助我们以非凡的方式去爱人。靠着祂的大能，我们可以选择说：“你去哪里，我也去哪里。”
反思与祷告 你身边有谁正走在艰难的道路上？你该如何选择与他同行？ 感谢主耶稣，因为您从来没有离弃我。作者：凯伦平波