Dear friends,
I wanted my first forum for 2007 to be special, and have been racking my brains trying to find the right subject. But today while surfing thru my favourite site www.ggwo.org I come across this post which spoke to me so much...I knew at once this was the right forum subject and the right time too !!!
HELPING BITTER PEOPLE GET BETTER
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The
Book of Ruth comes at a significant place in our Bibles. It lands
squarely after Judges, which closes with this illustrative verse: “In
those days there was no king in
Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). Peril-filled times were upon the nation of
Israel.
The people were following every which way but the way of God. Here,
however, we get a beautiful story of love and loyalty. The Lord
provides a brief story of how He never removes Himself from the picture
of His people’s lives
Even centuries later the world does seem to be in chaos doesnt it ??
if we study the scriptures carefully we can learn the lesson it means to teach us.
Naomi had become a bitter woman by this point. She wasn’t even
convinced that the God of her people was the God anymore. At first,
both daughters-in-law purposed to go to
Israel
with Naomi. They wept with Naomi, who said, “It grieves me much for
your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me” (Ruth
1:13). That was enough for Orpah to hear. She went back to “her people,
and her gods” (verse 15).
How familiar is this situation with many of us here today ???
All of us have
encountered bitter believers, and Ruth was in a particular state. Naomi
had surely taught Ruth all that she knew of the Almighty God of Israel.
To the daughter of Moab’s
credit, she hung on to the Word. She had taken heed to what she had
heard. Her mind was unchangeable in this regard. Naomi’s God was the
God and was now her God.
Ruth kept moving in the
pattern she was taught, even though bitter Naomi has cast that pattern
aside. Out Ruth went to the field of Boaz and she began to glean. For
herself and for Naomi, the young lady sought fruit.
Her character and
commitment shone brightly. Boaz takes note immediately upon the sight
of her: “Whose damsel is this?” (Ruth 2:5). He had heard the reports of
this Moabitess. News of her apparently spread through the little town
of Bethlehem.
Perhaps, she was quiet; it’s sad to say, but that’s a trait that
usually stands out itself. She wasn’t babbling about Naomi’s bitter
attitude and it marveled Bethlehem
that a foreigner could possess such conviction. Knowing the news and
seeing her labor stirred this man of dignity, property, and influence
to pray a blessing upon this “stranger” – “The Lord recompense thy
work, and full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under
whose wings thou art come to trust” (Ruth 2:12).
From the above passage what touched me the most was that Ruth kept to her belief and what she had been taught so rightly by Naomi...'her character shown brightly' Ruth 2:5 our character shows who we really are, and what we believe, and we cannot hide it howver much we try! Ruths good character and conduct got her the attention of Boaz..'stirred this man of dignity, property, and influence'........So do we wonder why we attract the wrong type of friends ???? Look within....you will find the answer !!!
Ruth shows us this way. She never forsakes the truth. She heard the
Word, took it to heart, and practiced it faithfully even after the one
who had taught her first got off track. We have a happy ending hear.
Naomi did get better. Think of the joy she felt holding little Obed,
whose name meant “servant.” Through faithfulness to God, we can teach
bitter people how to serve again
Its never too late to change, to know, to learn, and to BE !! only to enjoy the blessings that come with being obedient.
Pray this little study would make a difference to your day !!!!
God Bless you all
Pauline R
source of study taken from POINTS OF INTEREST
http://www.ggwo.org/index.php?module=main&action=poiarticle&id=21