Ruth 4: Faithful Heritage

"So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. Then he went to her, and the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son...  And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David."

Ruth 4:13,17 (NIV)

God takes pride in his people. The Bible traces long lines of faithful people--from Adam to Jesus. It makes me wonder when and why we stopped caring about our heritage?

People are proud of their money... their possessions. They may be proud if they have a close relative or friend who is/was a celebrity. Why is it that we are not proud of the Christian heritage in our lives? It is something we should be truly grateful for! After all, a Christian heritage---the faithfulness of our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and so on--is one of the greatest gifts God could have given us in encouraging our first steps towards Salvation. 

Now, having a Christian family doesn't guarantee a child will become a Christian... nor does coming from a non-Christian family guarantee a child won't become a Christian. However, having a heritage of Christian faithfulness certainly puts a child on the right track to Salvation. A heritage of faithfulness is an eternal legacy. It is worth more than a prestigious surname or a hefty inheritance. A family that has stored up mountains of heavenly riches has something worth more admiration than those with earthly riches or fame! 

I often fall into the trap of feeling proud of the things I accomplish. I become prideful and puffed up over my accomplishments, my success, my awards and accolades. But, really, what does all that really matter in the grand scheme of things? I should be cherishing my parents who always pointed me towards God and tried to live as daily examples of Christian faithfulness. My grandparents who live and have lived Godly lives in pursuit of God's will. All my relatives before them who pursued God, lived their lives as Christian examples and raised their children to do the same. Without this heritage of faithfulness, I have no idea where I would be. I thank God for my heritage. Not out of selfish pride, but out of humble gratitude.

But what of those who do not have a long line of Christian relatives? Well, every legacy, every heritage has to start somewhere. I am hoping that my heritage does not end with me. It is my utmost goal to continue the legacy of faithfulness. To live as an example of faithfulness. To guide my future children to God and to pray that they continue onward in faithfulness after I've gone. We each have a Christian heritage to either uphold or begin. 

Like an Olympic torch relay, we each carry a Light through our lives to pass onto the next generation. If there have been many before us, we can thank God for blessing us with a momentum set by the previous generations. If we are first, we can thank God for blessing us with the opportunity to begin the race; to have the honour of lighting the first torch to hand off to the next generation. 

Ruth 3: Love and Respect

^{She said, "I am Ruth, your maiden; take me under your protecting wing.}

^...

He said, "God bless you...Everybody in town knows what a courageous woman you are— a real prize! ... As God lives, I'll do it. "

Ruth 3:9-13 (The Message)

Being a young, widowed woman in Old Testament times was a scary and dangerous thing. A woman had no way to support herself or protect herself without having a man in her life. In this chapter, Ruth's widowed mother-in-law encourages Ruth to go out and find a man suitable for marriage. Naomi is too old to get married, but Ruth is a beautiful and vibrant young woman. Naomi encourages Ruth to seek out Boaz for marriage.

There is a lot to be learned in the relationship dynamic of Ruth and Boaz. Ruth praises Boaz for being kind, generous, and protective. Boaz praises Ruth for being courageous, godly, and loving. With all of the push in these modern days towards gender equality, I think roles are being blurred that we are doing a great disservice to our relationships and marriages. Women need and want their men to be protectors. Men need and want their women to be godly and courageous... to do what's right.  

Ruth honoured Boaz and respected him by being humble and quietly lying at his feet and waiting for him to make the decision to marry her. Boaz was loving towards Ruth by protecting her and treating her kindly.

My husband and I are currently studying Dr. Emerson Eggerich's Love and Respect, so I have been reading the book of Ruth with Eggerich's ideas in mind. As I journey through the book of Ruth, I'm realizing just how important the love and respect model for relationships is. God designed men and women differently. Everyone knows this... and yet we still try to treat one another exactly the same. 

The story of Ruth and Boaz is a story of love, a story of respect, and a story of obedience. Keep this dynamic in mind as we continue to follow their story this week. 

Ruth 2: Perseverance Rewarded

¹⁰ At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She exclaimed, "Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?

I would encourage you to read through the book of Ruth with me as I explore it. Today I read through Ruth 2 and had a difficult time picking out a verse or two to share with you. You really must read the whole book and chapter to get the proper context.

However, today as I read Ruth 2 I was struck by Ruth's perseverance and Boaz's generosity. Ruth was literally picking up the scraps that the other harvesters left behind in order to feed her mother-in-law and herself. She was a foreigner and had no hope of getting a job working the fields when there were locals who needed work. But she didn't let this stop her. She risked being harassed, abused, and perhaps even killed to find food for her mother-in-law, who was too old to work.

This courage and perseverance caught Boaz's eye and he specifically told his workers to leave Ruth alone and even leave a few extra scraps for her to take along the way. He invited Ruth to stay on his field so that he could ensure her safety and comfort. 

I pray for both Ruth's perseverance and Boaz's kindheartedness. I pray that God would give me the strength to brave life's hardships and to keep working hard for the important things in life. And when my life is going well, I pray that God would give me Boaz's eye for those in need of a kind heart and a generous hand.

Thank you, God, for being there for me. Thank you for picking me up when I start stumbling. Help me to keep persevering like Ruth, Lord. God, I also ask that you'd open my eyes to my fellow stumblers on Life's road. Help me to take the time to help them as Boaz helped Ruth. 

Thank you, God.

-Me.

(Late) Sunday Sprint: Finding the Strength to Go On

"My soul melts from heaviness; 
Strengthen me according to Your word."  
Psalm 119:28

Sometimes the world punches you in the gut. Leaves you breathless. Leaves you broken. Sometimes you just don't think you can go on. Your heart is "melting"... breaking...

This why God left us the Bible. We have a love letter from the Lord to refer back to on our dark days. We can find strength and hope in His Word and His Love for us.

Thank you, God.

Ruth 1: Spunky for the Lord

^"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. ¹⁷ Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." ¹⁸ When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging"

Ruth 1:16-18

Meet Ruth. She is one of only a handful of faithful women discussed in the Bible. She was fiercely loyal, she was strong, she was a woman to be admired. 

She was also not a Jew. She was a Moabite--a people who, in that time, were hated and in a bitter rivalry with the Jewish people. However, she did not let her cultural differences separate her from the one true God, nor did she let her culture keep her from being a faithful and loyal companion to her Jewish widowed mother-in-law. 

Ruth was also going through a difficult time. Her husband had also passed away. But there was a significant difference between her and her mother-in-law: age. Ruth was young! She would likely have no problem getting remarried and find a life of relative security in her own homeland. However, Ruth refused to be sent away. She decided she would not leave her mother-in-law to fend for herself. She would accompany her and support her.

We can all learn a thing or two from Ruth. This girl knew how to be loyal. She had spunk. She knew how to be faithful. This was not an easy thing for her to do. She could have had a much easier life back home. However, she did not let difficulty stand in the way of being faithful to her mother-in-law and, also, faithful to her God.

I pray that God would give me the strength, confidence, and resolve of Ruth. She is truly inspirational. 

Undercover Christian?

"If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels."

Luke 9:26

I find that sometimes Christians are afraid to admit their faith to their non-Christian friends. This is especially true when they are very much in the minority compared to their non-Christian friends. Sometimes we'd rather "fit-in" than have to deal with the ridicule or questions that others might have if they found out our faith.

Living incognito as a Christian is not being much of a Christian at all. Christians are called to live their lives out loud. We are asked to be proud of our God and our Savior. We are asked to let our lives be a light and testimony for God's greatness.

Really... when you think about it... is it so much to ask? Jesus suffered and died so that we might have a personal and intimate relationship with the God of the Universe! Have we really lost sight of how awesome that gift is and what a terrible price Jesus had to pay on our behalf?

Being ashamed to live our lives out loud---with our actions and our words---for the glory of God, is just adding insult to injury to our Savior. He went through hell on Earth to give us this gift, and now we're afraid to even acknowledge him? 

Even if we put this in the pitiful terms of a gift, the insult becomes obvious. What if someone had bought their friend a jacket... they walked to the top of the mountain for it, it was the most beautiful jacket in the world, and they paid a million dollars for it... all so that they could give their friend this wonderful gift and wear it proudly. What would happen if that friend greedily accepted the gift but never wore the jacket for fear of what others would think of it?

We need to wear our salvation on our sleeves. We need to be proud of our God and grateful for our salvation. We need to live our lives in actions and in words, so that on judgment day Jesus will acknowledge us with his actions and his words... with a hug and a whisper;

 "Well done, good and faithful servant"

Sunday Sprint: Turning to God in the Bad Times

Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; 

    my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief

Psalm 31:9

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Matthew 5:4

We all go through times of sorrow in our lives. Tragedies happen. The world threatens to overwhelm us. Sadness and depression tighten their grip on our hearts. 

While the bad times are inevitable, they don't have to be interminable. We have a loving Father in heaven whom we can turn to in our dark times. We can cry out to him and he will comfort us. While relief may not come as quickly as want... relief will come. 

With tears in my eyes, I will turn to my heavenly Father for a comforting embrace and a shoulder to cry on. I will cry out to him for help, and in my ear I will hear his compassionate voice whisper, "Child, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." (Matthew 5:34).

Drink, Drank, Drunk: Is Imbibing a "No No"?

^"Woe to those who rise early in the morning 

       to run after their drinks, 

       who stay up late at night 

    till they are inflamed with wine."

Isaiah 5:11

^"For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners.'"

Luke 7:33-34

"Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in...drunkenness"

Romans 13:13

^"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit."

Ephesians 5:18

"[God] makes...wine that gladdens the heart of man" 

Psalm 104:14-15

One of the many "hot topics" among Christians is the question of whether or not drinking alcoholic beverages is "right" or "wrong." Like many "hot topics" among Christians, drinking is a "grey" area in the Bible. It is neither encouraged nor discouraged. It is left up to the individual to decide for themselves if it is "right" or "wrong" for them.

The Bible does make one thing quite clear-- drunkenness is wrong. We are outright told not to become drunkards or get drunk. However, things get complicated when we are told that Jesus drank wine and the Psalmist, David, praised God for making wine that "gladdens the heart." Things are further complicated by the subjectivity in defining what "drunk" is. The Bible often mentions "stumbling" in conjunction with "drunkenness"... but even still the point at which "happy" ends and "drunk" begins is a fuzzy (no pun intended) line. 

It can be difficult for people to walk that fine line between drinking to get "glad" and drinking to get drunk. For those who can't restrain themselves, drinking often leads to drunkenness. For those individuals, drinking is indeed a sin and something to be completely avoided. 

For those who can drink in moderation and who have a good grasp of their limits and the self-control to remain within those limits, drinking is not a sin. They have no obligation to avoid it. 

However, those who drink need to be aware that, as Christians, we are more closely scrutinized than others. Even Jesus himself was accused of being a "drunkard" because he drank wine and hung out with sinners. Jesus was obviously not a drunkard; however, he was harshly judged by the "holier-than-thou" religious-types of his day. He was a rabbi, a teacher, that humbled himself and wasn't afraid of being seen with unpopular/sinful people. The Pharisees were prideful of their supposed "purity" and "religious superiority" and therefore accused Jesus of wrong-doing. 

In the same way, Christians need to be prepared to face the quick judgments of others if they choose to partake in alcoholic beverages. We should be sensitive to the beliefs of fellow Christians and, obviously, respect our brothers and sisters enough to not drink in their presence if they see it as sinful. However, we also shouldn't be surprised if our decision to partake in moderation elicits raised eyebrows from those around us. It's a grey area for a reason. Not everyone will automatically assume that you know your limits and that your actions are within the boundaries of what is Biblically "permissible." 

Bottom line: Don't drink if you don't know your limits. Don't drink around those who see it as a sin. Don't drink if you're not prepared to face scrutiny.

In general, I feel that moderate drinking to the point of "gladness" is not wrong or sinful. However, sometimes it is easier for people to just avoid it completely than to walk the fine line between "permissible" and "sinful". It's an issue that every individual has to explore for themselves and reach a decision that is best for their well-being. 

How It All Began

" ¹ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

Genesis 1:1 NLT

This is one of the most recognizable verses in the entire Bible. This is the verse that began it all. This is the verse that begins the story of time. Our story. The story of a loving God and his wayward children. The story of rebellion and anger that turned to forgiveness and peace. A story that has yet to come to its conclusion.

Since this story began, people have questioned the Author. We have all questioned this story's validity. We have questioned its wisdom. Even those who lived to see the events of the story take place first-hand had their doubts...but this is why our story is a faith story. It's not a textbook or a self-help book. It's not a fairytale. It's a love story with an open invitation. It's my love story. It's your love story. It's God's love story.

People will continue to doubt and theorize. They will put their faith in other things--be it other gods, themselves, or science. However, this story does not need our faith to exist. The story will continue to unfold despite our disbelief or doubting. Is it really so hard to believe that an all-powerful, loving God exists? Look at the world around you! Look at how perfectly the intricacies of this world work in harmony. Is it merely coincidence that our world is in the perfect spot in the solar system to support life? Is it merely coincidence that we are the only sentient beings on earth? The only beings that have Faith? Is it merely coincidence that there are countless cycles put into motion on this planet to support and sustain life? 

Perhaps a better questions is how, if not by God's hand, did this world come into being? How does nothing become something? Moreover, how does nothing become a glorious, amazing, awesome, functional, beautiful, wonderful something? 

There are always the "what abouts" in a doubted faith. What about the dinosaurs? What about carbon dating?  What about evolution? Really, is it so hard to believe that an all-powerful God couldn't create this wonderful world with strange creatures, with a sense of age, and with the ability to adapt? Perhaps the dinosaurs were all killed in the Great Flood. Perhaps mankind killed them all. Perhaps God just put funny-looking skeletons in the ground just to capture our imaginations. 

As far as the earth's apparent age is concerned, we must remember that God created Adam and Eve as adults... not as babies. Is it inconceivable to think He did not do the same with the Earth? God created the Earth as its "adult" self...not as a primordial "baby". Contrary to popular belief, evolution and creation are not mutually exclusive beliefs. God is a keen engineer and created this world with the ability to self-sustain and adapt. He created amazing creatures with the ability to adapt to the changing world. He set time into motion to begin this story, and he will end time with Eternity once the story of Earth has been fulfilled.

It all began with God. The world was spoken into existence by Him. I don't know about you, but when I look at the world around me--- in all its amazing glory--- I don't have a hard time believing it.

Sunday Sprint: Love is a Verb

^"18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions."

1 John 3:18 NLT

Love is such a misused and abused word in our society today.

"I love my car! I love pizza! I love that show! I love this song! I love your shoes!"

Is it any wonder that the words "I love you" have lost some of their potency? 

This is why we have been called to love others through our actions, rather than just with our words. 

Talk is cheap. Let us lavish each other with the luxury of loving actions. 

Prove your love by showing it. 

2012: End of Days?

^"1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. ² For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. ³ They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. ⁴ They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. ⁵ They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!" (2 Timothy 3:1-5 NLT)

I'm not really interested in getting into a debate about whether or not 2012 is the year to end all years. I personally think it's a waste of time to try and pinpoint the day of Armageddon, as the bible makes it clear that no one can know that. However, this particular passage makes me feel like the Last Day can't be all that far away.

When I look at the world around me, I see all of the signs described in the passage above. We live in sinful times. In no other time in history have people had so little respect for the sacred. In this "New Age" people can be exceptionally "spiritual" without making a commitment to anything. They "act religious, but reject the power that could make them godly." 

Selfishly, I hope the End Times are indeed close. I really don't want to see the world get any worse than it already is. I really would love to be interrupted in the middle of this post by Jesus Christ announcing his return to this world...putting an end to time and beginning eternity. But, alas, I am still writing. This post has been published.

My own selfishness aside, my feelings that we are indeed living among the last generations of time also make me sad and concerned for those who do not believe. Time is running out. Decisions need to be made. However, I know too many friends who are living lives in pursuit of selfish pleasure and putting off their commitment to a godly life. They believe that they should be able to live life as they please now, and maybe in a couple decades they'll worry about their souls. 

We are warned to "stay away from people like that", but at the same time we are called to help them hear the Truth. How do we do both? The line is drawn at decision time. If a person rejects your invitation to learn about Salvation and chooses to continue down their chosen path, there is nothing more you can do until God speaks to their heart. Pursuing them in their choice will only result in you running further and further down the wrong path. Our job is to meet people at the crossroads in their lives and invite them to choose the Right Path. We are not to run after people when they choose to go down the wrong path and attempt to drag them back with us. This will not work out well for either person involved.

I become more and more convinced every day that the Last Day is very close. While I am excited for the fulfillment of my own faith, I am sad for those who have chosen the wrong path. I can imagine their despair on That Day when they realize that they put off their Salvation for too long. That they made the wrong choice.


In the meantime, I will try my best to be available to extend an invitation to people when they reach the crossroads in their lives, however I must be careful not to chase after them if they make the wrong choice.

God,

I feel like your chosen day is near. Anyone with eyes and ears can recognize the signs that are so obvious and prevalent in our world. We must have far surpassed Sodom and Gomorrah in our disregard for You. I am looking forward to the Day you end time, but I ask that you please help people hear and heed your invitation and warnings. Help them understand that they don't have time to put off their decision. Once they choose a path, there may not be another crossroads ahead. 

Help me to be confident and available to invite those who are ready. But God, please help me to stay faithful and not get caught up in the sins of others. Don't let me mess up when we're this close to the end.

Thank-you

-Me

Romans 16: Don't Get Dragged Down.

^"17I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them."

I've noticed that I can be very easily effected by those around me. Now, I don't consider myself one to "go with the crowd" or swayed easily by people... but I can be easily swayed when the push is subtle. It's as simple as a co-worker complaining bitterly about their job... soon I'll find myself hating mine. Or perhaps I'll get caught in the middle of a fight between two friends... one minute I'm siding with one friend as I hear her side of the story... and the next I'm swayed in the other direction as I listen to the words of the other friend.

While it's important to be patient with those around us, and to be kind, loving friends to them, we need to be very careful not to get caught up in the negativity or sinful attitudes of those around us. If someone won't respect our beliefs and is argumentative and/or bitter towards God and the church... it's honestly best if we just stay away from them. The subtle emotion of bitterness is so contagious that we need to actively protect ourselves against it. 

I know this is very hard for me to do. It's hard for me to avoid my friends and co-workers. I feel like it's rude of me to just outright "keep away" from them. However, the truth of the matter is, people who stir up trouble and seek to cause fighting within our spirits and within our churches are not healthy people to be around. We should be united in our beliefs. When some tries to manipulate us into believing something contrary to what the Bible teaches, we need to take steps to avoid their manipulations. 

We need to keep the foundation of of our beliefs intact. When someone causes divisions in a church, the foundation cracks... and is soon in danger of crumbling. 

Romans 15: Are You an Encouragement?

 "¹ We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. ² We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. ...

 ⁵ May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. ⁶ Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 ⁷ Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory"

(Romans 15:1-2,5-7 NASB)

I sometimes find it really difficult to have the patience and perseverance to always "live in harmony" with those around me. Sometimes people really get on my nerves. Other times I genuinely disagree with them. It can be hard to help others "do what is right" and "build them up" in Christ. I mean, it's hard enough to just concentrate on my own spiritual well-being... never mind having to look after someone else's!

But this passage makes it clear. Looking out for #1 --even in spiritual matters-- is selfish. After all, what does it really matter if we have the best prayer life or devotional time if we don't use it to help others? How good of Christians can we possibly be if we are always pursuing our own interests and fighting with those around us?

People on the outside looking in often look disdainfully on Christians because of the amount of in-fighting that can occur in our churches. Just like any other institution involving people, our churches are still (sadly) prone to bickering, gossip, and grumbling. We speak poorly of our churchmates, we bicker over the small things, and we are never satisfied with how the church is run. 

In reality, however, this is not at all how a Christian church should be. If we truly were all led by the Holy Spirit 100% of the time, we would be of one mind in the Spirit and trekking onwards to the common goal of Salvation and spiritual nurturing of all people. We should be helping people become better Christians, rather than just fighting over logistics. We should pick people up, rather than push them away.

I don't know about you, but it is so easy for me to get lost within myself in regards to spiritual growth. I focus inwards, get lost in my own prayers, get fired up in my own worship... and I begin to shut the world out. It's so easy for me to try to reap all the inward benefits of my relationship with God, and forgo any outward expression of this inner change. It's so easy to get caught up in the institutionalized church and forget about the Community of Believers. We might be getting warm-fuzzies from the worship one minute, and criticizing a brother or sister in Christ in the next minute. This isn't right. 

We need to make sure we're keeping each other spiritually healthy for the glory of God. We're all part of one Body and being selfish and critical of others is no more helpful than using your left hand to put out cigarette butts on your right arm. Protecting one part of the body while harming another is not going to result in a Healthy Body. All parts must work together for a common edification. 

Romans 14 (revisited)

I actually wrote a Sunday Sprint a couple weeks ago based on Romans 14. Because of this, I will just link you to that post today and move onto Romans 15. Enjoy "Don't Judge Me!"