Sunday Words of Encouragement May 6, 2012

Our associate Pastor preached today on the story of Ruth.   Naomi, an Israelite widow, decided to return home when all the men in the family died.  Her widowed daughter-in-law, Ruth, from Moab, determined to followed Naomi back to Israel with the commitment that Naomi's people would be her people and Naomi's God would be her God. It is as though the power of God called to Ruth who had grown up in the brutal Moabite society.  Neither Naomi nor Ruth did anything particularly spiritual but they returned home to resume living in the Israelite community.  Then they did the day to day tasks necessary to survive and Ruth was obedient to her mother-in-law, Naomi. God honored their trust and obedience.

Pastor D. pointed out that often we are impetuous and we do not wait on God. When we get off on the wrong exit or path we may miss the full blessings God has in store. God wants us to learn to hold steady and know that He has all things under control. God will lead us and bless us as we trust Him and walk in obedience just as He led, provided for and blessed Naomi and Ruth.

One of the worship songs we sang today is I am a Friend of God.  I was struck that it fit with the sermon (I love how God does that!) because God showed Himself as a friend to Naomi and Ruth and has chosen to call us friend as well. 

A Verse for Today:

Ruth 1:16 (NIV)

¹⁶ 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.

I pray today that I will be faithful in daily tasks and that I will be obedient to follow where God may lead me.