Category: Ruth Devotionals

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Ruth Devotionals

Redeemed

Ruth, Tamar, Leah, Rachel

May the Lord make the woman who is entering your house like Rachel and Leah, who together built the house of Israel…

May your house become like the house of Perez, the son Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring the Lord will give you by this young woman.” (Ruth 4:11-12)

This morning, I was thinking about Rachel, Leah, and Tamar. All three were broken in their own ways. (Genesis 29-30, 38)

And yet, none of them were ultimately remembered that way. They were remembered as blessed women.

Ruth too suffered brokenness in her life, and she is now remembered as blessed.

Not only that, all four women were used to bring our Redeemer into the world. All of them are in Jesus’ family tree.

And so God reminded me this morning, “You are not defined by your brokenness. I have redeemed you. And you are blessed.”

I was nothing before you found me.
You have given life to me.

Heartache, broken pieces,
Ruined lives are why you died on Calvary.

Your touch was what I longed for.
You have given life to me. — Bill and Gloria Gaither

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Ruth Devotionals

Finding rest

Rest

My daughter, shouldn’t I find rest for you… (Ruth 3:1)

I was just thinking on the idea of “rest” in this chapter.

Ruth found rest by trusting Naomi, and even more so by trusting Boaz.

Had Boaz not been the honorable man he was, Ruth could have found herself in real danger. But she trusted that her redeemer was good, and she found rest as a result.

That was in stark contrast to the Israelite people of that time. By not trusting their Redeemer, they repeatedly lost their “rest” (Judges 1:18-19, 2:11-12, 3:30-4:2, 5:31-6:2).

I’m thinking about people right now who have lost their rest because they lost their trust that their Redeemer is good.

I don’t want to be like that.

I choose to be like Ruth, trusting my Redeemer is good and his promise true.

Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

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Ruth Devotionals

But the truth is… (2)

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I was pondering Ruth chapters 1 and 2 some more, and thinking about the difference between feelings and reality.

How did Naomi feel in chapter 1?

“The Lord has opposed me. The Almighty has afflicted me.”

But what was the truth?

“The Lord has not withdrawn his kindness from me. He has never stopped loving me.”

I don’t want to simply follow my feelings. That only leads to a pain cycle that’s hard to get out of.

I want to be rooted in God’s love, swinging the sword of his Word and declaring, “But the truth is…”

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Ruth Devotionals

But the truth is…

Naomi

Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed of the Lord who has not withdrawn his kindness to the living and to the dead.” (Ruth 2:20, NASB 95)

It’s amazing the difference a chapter can make.

In chapter 1, Naomi was bitter against God saying that he had turned against her. (Ruth 1:13, 20-21)

But now she realizes the truth: despite all the evil in her life, God had never abandoned her. Rather, he still deeply loved her.

Maybe you are feeling like Naomi, caught in the pain cycle of your grief.

You feel God like has turned against you.

You feel like he has abandoned you.

But the truth is, he’s good and he loves you.

And if instead of running from him, you’ll make him your refuge, coming under his wings (12), you will eventually come to see that.

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Ruth Devotionals

God is good?

Naomi

“Don’t call me Naomi (meaning “pleasant”).

Call me Mara (meaning “bitter”),” she answered, “for the Almighty has made me very bitter.

I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty.

Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has opposed me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?” (Ruth 1:20-21)

I’m thinking of someone right now going through the exact same feelings that Naomi had.

Sometimes it’s hard to see God’s goodness in our lives.

And yet, as I was praying for this person, I got a text from another friend this morning.

He lost his job late last year, and this year has been a real struggle for him on a lot of levels.

Honestly, it got a little discouraging for me praying for him at times as there seemed to be no quick answers.

But this morning he told me he just got rehired by his company.

And God reminded me again that yes, he is good.

So that’s what I’m holding on to as I pray for this other person who is still struggling now. And I’m praying that she will ultimately come to see God’s goodness in all this too.

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Ruth Devotionals

No coincidence

She happened to be in the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from Elimelech’s family. (Ruth 2:3)

I wonder if the author of the book of Ruth wrote those words with a wink of the eye.

“She happened to be…?”

There’s no doubt that was God’s leading, and I’m sure the author knew it.

Naomi had thought that God had abandoned her, but God still had a plan for her. And that coincidence had ramifications not only for her, but for us as well. (If you don’t mind spoilers, take a look at Matthew 1:5-6, 16).

When Naomi realized that, hope revived in her heart.

With God, there are no coincidences. He is deliberately working out his purposes. And those purposes are for the good of those who love him. (Romans 8:28)

I have encountered many “coincidences” in my life.

But looking back, those weren’t coincidences at all. And as God’s plans for me have become clearer to me, I’ve come to realize more and more just how good he really is. That’s why I have hope.

Truly, God is one who never abandons his kindness towards us.

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Ruth Devotionals

A prayer in time of famine

Lord, as in the time of the judges, we live in a land of famine. People are starving spiritually.

There are so many like Naomi who feel bitter. Who feel that your hand has turned against them. That you have opposed and afflicted them.

My Shepherd, visit your people. Give to them your Bread of Life. Show your kindness to them. In your grace, save them. Grant them rest, Lord, not in the things of this world, but in you.

And as you used Ruth to show grace and mercy to Naomi, use me to touch those hurting around me. In Jesus’ name, amen.