Monday, January 7, 2019

Fully Committed

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”

Ruth 1:15–17

Ruth had married a young man from Israel in Moab where she lived, but after both her father in law, her husband, and his brother died, she faced a crossroads decision. Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, had been left without support with her husband and both sons dead, so she decided to return to her people in Bethlehem. While Orpah chose to remain in Moab where her family lived, Ruth insisted on going to Bethlehem with Naomi. This meant that she was leaving behind her family, her language, and her religion on a permanent basis.

We live in a mobile society, so it is easy for us to undervalue the commitment Ruth was making. She had no plans to turn back. She was fully committed to staying with Naomi no matter what happened. Before she started down the road to Bethlehem, she had decided it was a lifelong choice, and that she would even be buried there in Israel rather than among her family in Moab. God rewarded her faith and she eventually married Boaz and became the great grandmother of the great king David.

The Lord strongly condemned those whose commitment to Him was only halfhearted. “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).

Today’s Growth Principle: 

It does not require great talent for our service to be approved by God, but it does require great faithfulness.

CURRENT RADIO SERIES Eternity Now   CURRENT TV SERIES Songs of Courage

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” -–Romans 8:18 At what times in your life have you felt the closest to God? When did you experience your greatest spiritual growth? I’m going to venture a guess and say that it was not during a happy or easy time in your life! You see, God uses trials in our lives. They have a specific purpose and are permitted by him. Now, this might make you think, “That’s not fair. Why did that trial have to happen to me?” That’s a normal response. But here’s the deal. The trials and tests in our lives have an important purpose. They make us stronger and keenly aware of the fact that God is with us. Just think of the physical testing and trials that athletes must put themselves through. Their training can be excruciating. They have to tear down muscle tissue to build it up. And what is true for athletes physically is even truer for you and me spiritually. You see, God uses the hard times and the pain and suffering in our lives to strengthen us and to help us grow. I know you have had tough and painful life experiences. Perhaps even ones that you thought you wouldn’t survive. But think about this: God saw you through! You came through the other side and you are stronger for it. Don’t ask God for times of smooth sailing and success. Instead, ask him to help you to trust him in every challenge of your life. Ask him to help you recognize his mercy and comfort. And ask him to help you grow so that with each blast of life’s furnace, you are being refined for eternity.   GOD USES THE HARD TIMES AND THE PAIN AND SUFFERING IN YOUR LIFE TO STRENGTHEN YOU AND TO HELP YOU GROW.