We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love. 1 Corinthians 13:12-13 The Message.
FAITHFUL. Derived from Hebraic root, meaning that the one so described is trustworthy, dependable, trusting, or loyal.
HOPE. Trustful expectation relating to the fulfillment of God's promises. The confidence that arises from the expectation that God remains steadfast to His covenant.
LOVE. Unselfish, loyal, and benevolent concern for the well-being of another. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul describes "love" as a "more excellent way" than speaking in tongues and preaching.
Once upon a time - it was back in the days when judges led Israel - there was a famine in the land. A man from Bethlehem in Judah left home to live in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The man's name was Elimelech; his wife's name was Naomi; his sons were named Mahlon and Kilion - all Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They all went to the country of Moab and settled there.
Elimelech died and Naomi was left, she and her two sons. The sons took Moabite wives; the name of the first was Orpah, the second Ruth. They lived there in Moab for the next ten years. But then the two brothers, Mahlon and Kilion, died. Now the woman was left without either her young men or her husband. One day she got herself together, she and her two daughters-in-law, to leave the country of Moab and set out for home; she had heard that GOD had been pleased to visit His people and give them food. And so she started out from the place she had been living, she and her two daughters-in-law with her, on the road back to the land of Judah.
After a short while on the road, Naomi told her two daughters-in-law, "Go back. Go home and live with your mothers. And may GOD treat you as graciously as you treated your deceased husbands and me. May GOD give each of you a new home and a new husband!" She kissed them and they cried openly. They said, "No, we're going on with you to your people." But Naomi was firm: "Go back, my dear daughters. Why would you come with me? Do you suppose I still have sons in my womb who can become your future husbands? Go back, dear daughters - on your way, please! I'm too old to get a husband......Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye; but Ruth embraced her and held on.
Naomi said, "Look, your sister-in-law is going back home to live with her own people and gods; go with her." But Ruth said, "Don't force me to leave you; don't make me go home. Where you go, I go; where you live, I live. Your people are my people, your God is my god; where you die, I'll die, and that's where I'll be buried, so help me GOD - not even death itself is going to come between us!" When Naomi saw that Ruth had her heart set on going with her, she gave in. And so the two of them traveled on together to Bethlehem. Ruth 1:1-19 The Message.
Ruth was a Moabitess. Her husband had died. Her mother-in-law, an Israelite, was returning to the country where she came from. She had been told to remain with her people, in the land where she grew up, where her friends and family were. A familiar place with a support network. Yet, she chose instead to remain with her mother-in-law and move to a land and culture that was foreign to her. At the crossroad of familiarity and uncertainty, her heart led her on to a path unknown. Her words firm, loyal, affirming. History has it that the young woman of Moab, became the great-grandmother of King David, an ancestress of Jesus.
The family tree of Jesus Christ, David's son, Abraham's son......Salmon had Boaz (his mother was Rahab), Boaz had Obed (Ruth was the mother), Obed had Jesse, Jesse had David, and David became king. Matthew 1:1,5-6 The Message. Every once in a while, we come across the opportunity to serve alongside the Naomis in our lives. Such opportunities may take us off the beaten track. The only assurance is a faithful God and the desires of our hearts. Opportunity is a gift of time from the LORD that allows us to spend time together that we may become who we can be in Him. Da Guo, our utmost for His Highest!
Xiao Guo ",+
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