Ruth 1:16
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."
The book of Ruth tells such a beautiful story. Ruth lives out the word "loyalty." She vows to stay with her husband's mother after his death, and even to follow and obey Naomi's God. Why does she do this? We can speculate, but we know God must have made himself known to her. She had lived as a married woman with a family of believers. When the family fell apart, Naomi and her God were left, and Ruth knew it was the right thing to stay with them. This is true loyalty and love.
God of mercy and love, May I show you and those I love the same loyalty Ruth lived out. Amen
Becky, transforming
Ruth 1:16
Such a beautiful well – known verse. There is so much love and compassion in the story. Ruth has suffered a loss as well, but she sees Naomi’s loss as greater and because she loves Naomi, she is willing to give up her family to stay with her. Loyalty comes naturally with love.
Prayer: gracious God, May I always have Ruth’s strength to show that much loyalty to another. Amen
Ruth 1:16 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.
Loyalty! True loyalty mirrors Ruth’s loyalty to her God and her mother-in-law. Let us always be loyal to God who sent His Son to redeem us. Let us like Ruth, follow the perfect Redeemer who loved us so much that He gave his life for us.
Dearest Lord, thank you for the story of Ruth to demonstrate such loyalty to You. Your love for me sent Jesus to redeem us and give us eternal life. Your loyalty is unending…
I forgot to give photo credit to our daughter, Kay! Thanks, Kay! ❤️
Ruth 1:16
But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.
Ruth had obviously bonded closely with her mother-in-law Naomi and recognized that she had suffered the tremendous loss of her husband and both her sons. She had so much compassion for Naomi that she wasn’t going to let her go back to her hometown of Bethlehem alone. When I reflect on a time when I was hurting or grieving, and for some of you that may be now, don’t we remember the people who showed us compassion,…
Ruth 1:16 Ruth’s life is the definition of loyalty. Her’s was a gift from God that was redeemed in being forever remembered and being in the lineage of our Savior. We dare not expect our loyalty to God to be rewarded so spectacularly in this life, but the ultimate reward of eternal life, unmerited by our own works is beyond description.
Prayer - Redeemer God, grace me with the steadfast loyalty and love shown to You by Ruth. May I always be counted on to follow You, even (and especially) when there is not any worldly reward. Amen