BBD 10.09.07 Be a Ruth
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
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The Burning Bush Devotional
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10.09.07
Be a Ruth
But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following
after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will
lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die,
I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also,
if anything but death parts you and me." - Ruth 1:16-17.
Ruth, if you remember, had lost her husband and was facing a very uncertain
future. However, she made a commitment that the God of her mother-in-law
Naomi was going to be her God. Ruth made a commitment and lived out that
commitment becoming the great grandmother of King David. Ruth could have
gone back to her own people but she chose an unknown and possibly difficult
future. By choosing that course for her life, she had a godly influence upon
countless descendants and is still impacting the lives of people even today.
One of the people that have had a great influence upon my life was my
step-grandmother, Ruth. After her first marriage ended she married my
grandfather, and they had about seven or eight good years together until my
grandfather's health deteriorated.
My grandfather was unable to work, essentially bound to the house, had a leg
amputated with health sliding downwards. Ruth continued to work and
faithfully care for my grandfather during those years. Even then, when I was
young I marveled at her strength of character and commitment. She eventually
remarried after my grandfather died but this only lasted for a short time.
Ruth lived into her nineties before she passed away. She had a tough life
but, oh, what an example she has been to me, and to many, many others. She
has been an example of faith in spite of the bad, in spite of the storms of
life, a faith that just kept on shining through and even now is an
encouragement for me to live with godly character.
For years, I did not know Ruth's real first name. When she went to school in
the first grade, she didn't like her name and told every one that she was
"Ruth." How fitting!
Life on Planet Earth can be very difficult at times, bad things do happen,
and bad things happen to good people all the time. However, we have a
promise in Romans 8:28 that if we love the Lord and are seeking His will in
our lives that He will bring good even out of the very worst of what life
brings our way: "And we know that all things work together for good to those
who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
Most likely, if life is tough for you there are those who are watching, and
hopefully they are marveling at your faith. Your life I hope is molding the
lives of those around you just as the life of my step-grandmother has molded
mine.
Copyright © 2007. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
on a non-profit basis with source credited. The Burning Bush website has
been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998 the email version of the
Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.
Prayer Requests: Please pray for Malachi a young boy with cancer. The cancer
in Malachi's bone marrow has reoccurred and he will soon return to
California for additional treatment. Malachi is not doing very well and
there are obstacles from DHS and a judge to his receiving the treatment and
care that he needs. The harsh uncaring treatment of this boy and his family
(by the department of human services and the judge) and increased stress
because of it may have resulted in the return of the cancer. Update: Today
DHS cut the amount of food stamps this family was receiving in half even
though the father (single parent family) was unable to work for 20 days last
month because of trips necessary for the care of his son.
Many prayer needs are posted at the Burning Bush website on the Prayer
Request page. You can also post your prayer requests there and they will be
forwarded to the Burning Bush Prayer Group (Of course, I am always in need
of prayer - please pray for me.).
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