I was reading in Ruth a little while ago and in this book the Lord reminded me of how much He loves every one of us. Not only how much he loves us but what love does.
If you don’t know the story of Ruth I encourage you to read it because it’s only 4 chapters. To narrow it down, Naomi had two sons and they married Ruth and Orpah. Naomi’s husband died along with her two sons and she told her daughter-in-laws to leave her because she had nothing else for them. Orpah left, but Ruth didn’t want to leave Naomi.
But Ruth replied: Don’t plead with me to abandon you or to return and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me, and do so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.
I was taken back by Ruth’s response and the Lord reminded me that her faithfulness to Naomi is a representation of His faithfulness to us, individually. He gave me a couple themes but two of them I really have been dwelling on. That is love doesn’t second guess and love gives second chances. Ruth didn’t hesitate to respond with her loyalty to Naomi. Ruth left behind her mother and father to start a new life with Naomi. Naomi and Ruth had lost both of their husbands, but Ruth’s love for Naomi gave both of them a second chance. Boaz took Ruth as his wife and God gave them a son. Naomi was well taken care of even without a son or a husband, but because of a faithful daughter-in-law.
In 1 John 4:7-8 it says that God is Love and the one who does not love doesn’t know God because God is love. The way Ruth loves Naomi is a great example of this. I hope that this encourages you to be the love that God is and to not give up because love does give second chances. And when we think we don’t deserve his love, he doesn’t think twice about giving it to us.
Love doesn’t second guess
Love gives second chances
Love redeems
Love doesn’t go unnoticed
Love plants seeds
Love requires sacrifice
