~Everyone Won't Follow But Those Who Do Are Blessed~

Yesterday we talked about the importance of our character.  I hope that you allowed yourself to show love, kindness, & compassion to others and you did some selfless act on yesterday.  Keep it going.  Try it again today with less resistence.  Today we want to look deeper into the book of Ruth to see what great nuggets of blessing we find. 

Ruth 1:14

“And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.”  We Must Understand They May Love You, But Everyone Is Not Going To Follow You.  Orpah just like Ruth loved her mother-in-law dearly but unlike Ruth she had her own well being in mind.  Therefore she cried with them a little bit, hollered loud for a while, and said see ya I’m looking for somebody else to put a ring on it.  And Orpah hightailed it to her momma and daddy’s house. 

          Orpah is an example of the type of person we will inevitably encounter on our journey for Jesus.  God allows us to choose where we will spend eternity.  Some will choose heaven and others will choose hell.  It is vital that we not become distracted on this mission.  They may love you, hug you, kiss you, and cry with you but they all are not trying to follow where you lead them.  Remember Judas Iscariot. 

          The old phrase is you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him or her drink it.  Everybody is not trying to go where you go but don’t let that sidetrack you.  Keep pressing your way through for Jesus because the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. 

 Ruth 1:15-18

¹⁵And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.

On the surface Naomi has no sons to offer, she’s too old to have more, she’s grieved because her life seems to be bankrupt but Ruth sees righteousness, holiness, wisdom, loyalty, commitment, and provision all around her.  Most of all Ruth sees the relationship that Naomi has with her God. Ruth was a Moabite but that didn’t stop her from worshiping the true God.  She came to know God through Naomi.  Being by Naomi’s side she was able to experience the joys and anguish of Naomi’s relationship with God.  Just watching Naomi allowed Ruth to know that the God of Israel was the God she wanted to pledge her loyalty to. 

This story has a beautiful ending.  Ruth clings to her mother-in-law and eventually after much guidance from Naomi, Ruth meets her Boaz who is able to provide for her and proves to be a blessing to both Ruth and Naomi.  It is a fact that those that lead other women to Christ are indeed blessed and a blessing to others.

I leave you with this challenge ....Matthew 28:19-20   "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

If we want to lead others to Christ we must share with them this story of how we come to faith in Christ.  We begin with no hope.  We are rebellious aliens with no part in the kingdom of God then as we risk everything by putting our faith in Christ; God saves us, forgives us, and rebuilds the broken pieces of our lives.  Then He blesses us with blessings that will last throughout eternity.  We must lead by example.  We must display the character of God, realize that everyone is not going to follow, but know that if we do  what God has purposed for us on this earth we will be blessed.

Those who lead others to Christ are Blessed.  Ruth says to Naomi my destiny is tied to you and where God takes you that is where I want to be.  Following a godly person is a blessing to our lives.  We see they are blessed and just hanging around them sets us up for blessing.  Ruth knew there was more to Naomi than met the eye.  Often times we allow people who have nothing going on in their lives to influence us.  There is nothing wrong with befriending those people but if we are saved we are suppose to lead them to Jesus not let them lead us to the distraction and eventually back into the world.  We should desire to be around people that we see God taking somewhere.