The Story: Chapter 9 The Bible: Ruth
Ruth 1:2b-4 They entered the region of Moab and settled there. Sometimes later Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, so she and her two sons were left alone. Both her sons married Moabite women. (One was named Orpah and the other Ruth). And they continued to live there about ten years.
How many times had the Israelites been warned against mixing with the neighboring nations? To Elimelech’s credit, it does appear that he held his family together and his sons did not marry Moabite women until after his death. Yet still, inter-marriage was forbidden; any assimilation of other religions was forbidden. The Moabites held to the pagan belief of many gods, not belief in the one true LORD God Almighty.
We know the story. The sons of Elimelech, Mahlon and Kilion, soon die and Naomi is left alone with the two Moabite daughters-in-law. Orpah turns back, but Ruth continues to stay with Naomi and follow her all the way back to the land of Judah. So how is it possible, that a Moabite woman born into pagan culture would become the great-grandmother of King David and found in the lineage of Christ? The answer is a simple one, really.
Ruth 1:16 But Ruth replied, “Stop urging me to abandon you! For wherever you go, I will go. Where you live, I will live. Your people will become my people, and your God will become my God.”
Ruth was willing to forsake her pagan heritage and follow the one true God with Naomi. Her devotion to the LORD was complete and total for the remainder of her life. Her true identity was no longer tied to her pagan background, but her true identity would from henceforth be forever with God’s people.
That same opportunity is available to us today. Through the grace of God, we have the offer of salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 10:13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Today’s Prayer Suggestion: Offer thanksgiving to God for his mercy and grace. Thank Him for the gift of salvation we have through Jesus Christ. Thank Him that our true identity from henceforth will be a forgiven child of our Heavenly Father.
The devotional True Identity appeared first on Write From My Heart at
https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible® http://netbible.com copyright © 1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
General format for WFMH devotionals will follow the pattern of chapters outlined in The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, M. Lucado & R. Frazee, Zondervan, 2005, 2008, 2011.
No comments:
Post a Comment