-- Monday, 9/6/10 -- UNSTOPPABLE GRACE -- Ruth 1-4

[J.R. & Bonnie Ricks]

 

Take a Minute is a daily devotional ministry of

Dogwood Ministries, Inc.

If you need prayer… contact our partners in ministry…

 SJ Ministries - Ministry of Prayer

Or simply send your request to SJMini...@aol.com

All other requests, please see the end of the devotional

for Dogwood Ministries addresses

 

 

 

 

 

 

UNSTOPPABLE GRACE -- Ruth 1-4

 

Again, the incidents described in the book of Ruth take place during the dark, frightening time described in the book of Judges.  It was a time of anarchy, of idolatry, of sexual perversion, of crime and violence and death… a time when “everyone did as he saw fit”.  (Judges 17:6, 21:25)  Sort of sounds like today, doesn't it?  But in the midst of all this dark despair, there were still people who loved God and trusted Him, and who tried to live as He would have them live.  In the middle of hate and fear and unbearably frightening situations, God's grace abounded in the lives of Naomi and Ruth and Boaz.  In the midst of chaos, God's will continued to be done.

 

Naomi and Ruth were both in frightening situations - situations that would cause most anyone to run and hide.  They were alone.  Naomi was in a foreign land while they were in Moab, then the tables were turned when they went to Bethlehem, and Ruth found herself in a foreign land with strange customs and no real means of survival.  The situation between most mothers-in-law and their dead son's daughter at this point would have been tense at best.  They had no real place to live, no way to support themselves, nothing to call their own. 

 

From what we can tell, this was a big comedown for Naomi.  Apparently, her husband had been pretty well off, at least when they left Bethlehem for Moab.  Now, Naomi returns to Bethlehem.  Her husband and sons are dead.  Her only possession is the little portion of land her husband had left.  And her only companion is a foreign daughter-in-law.  Great soap opera material, isn't it?  Can't you imagine the fights and the discord that would have happened with these two women if they had not been who they were in the Lord?

 

However, instead of acting "naturally", these two women continued to put each other first.  Their lives and their relationship continue to be a shining illustration of how God's will is done no matter what our circumstances, no matter what is happening all around us.  And He provides us His grace to help us through every situation.  Awesome, isn't it?

 

--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TakeAMinute" group.

To unsubscribe from this group, send email with “Unsubscribe” in the subject line to J-R-and...@dogwoodministries.org 

For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/takeaminute

General correspondence or to subscribe to Take a Minute: J-R-and...@dogwoodministries.org

Donations to Dogwood Ministries:  http://www.dogwoodministries.org

Personal correspondence to Bonnie Ricks:  bon...@dogwoodministries.org

Personal correspondence to J.R. Ricks: j...@dogwoodministries.org

--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--