Discover the power of kindness despite desperate times (The Book of Ruth) Ruth is a powerful example of God’s ability to minister to desperate people in desperate need. You would expect God to work in wow type miracles and angels coming down from heaven but he doesn’t. God does nothing overtly in this story and yet we see his influence weaving kindness into the very fabric of the characters lives. If you’re going through a tough time then Ruth is for you. These messages will bring your comfort by unveiling God’s kindness in your life so that you will see just how God is working in and through your hardship. If you’re interested in making a tremendous difference to people then these messages will encourage you to commit yourself to making that difference through small acts of kindness.
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Depend on and Emulate God's Kindness - Ruth Chapter 1 |
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Monday, 27 February 2006 |
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The place of suffering in our lives is perhaps one of the more perplexing concepts we struggle with. Does God love me if I am suffering? Why do I have to suffer such deep hurts, whether physically, emotionally and spiritually? Why do my life circumstances have to be so tortured at times? There is a three-letter answer (you work it out) but lets explore the issue more deeply. I want to suggest that our hurtful relationships, broken friendships, broken health and broken world, all point to a far more important relationship that may be on the rocks. The physical world reflects the spiritual reality that we are so often blind too (Rom 8:18-25). We expect our lives to be heaven on earth and get disappointed when it’s not. The reason is our broken or struggling relationship with God. Not in the sense that every time you do something wrong God punishes you (we would all be in hell if that were the case). Rather, the brokenness of the world reflects the brokenness of our hearts before God. And sometimes God will force us to look hard at our brokenness so that we seek his healing and forgiveness (Christ heals the broken hearted). |
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Depend on and Emulate God's Kindness - Ruth Chapter 2 |
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Sunday, 05 March 2006 |
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Is it possible to see something that is invisible ( Rom 1:20)? Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit in terms of the wind blowing through the trees ( Jn 3:8). We see evidence of that which we do not see. Does God love you? Well open your eyes and learn to see how tenderly he cares for you, how attentive, how intimately He knows you. Even suffering is individually hand crafted just for you. How do you know if there is electricity flowing through a light bulb? It shines forth light. How do you know if God’s kindness is operating in a person’s life? It shines forth Christ (kindness). Learn to recognise and give thanks for God’s many gifts of kindness to you. As sight becomes clearer you will discover that kindness will begin to work much more powerfully in other people’s lives. Practice small acts of kindness to everyone you come into contact with. God bless you as you begin (or revive) a new journey of kindness. |
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Depend on and Emulate God's Kindness - Ruth Chapter 3 |
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Sunday, 12 March 2006 |
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To begin with Naomi had lost hope ( Ruth 1:20-21). But then she recognised God’s hand working in her life to provide for her and Ruth ( Ruth 2:20). And so hope was revived and gave birth to faith. Perhaps Naomi thought, "If God can provide food and safety then perhaps he will redeem me and provide for my long term future." Are you aware that God provides for your food, safety and every good thing? Will you not then trust God to redeem you spiritually? None of us could breath without God’s help let alone support ourselves financially and materially. We are unable to secure eternity with God in heaven because of our sin. There is no way that we can pay off that debt and so we need to be redeemed. And Christ is our close relative (like Boaz) who is prepared to pay off our debt (sin) so that we can be with God in heaven forever. Lets each of us renew our trust in Christ to provide for us materially, spiritually and eternally because he is our close relative, our kinsmen redeemer. |
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Depend on and Emulate God's Kindness - Ruth Chapter 4 |
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Sunday, 19 March 2006 |
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God was not the only one to give up His only Son. Ruth did the same thing, look at Ruth 4:15. The women praise Ruth’s love for Naomi in that she bore Naomi a son and gave her son to Naomi. That is pretty amazing and it prepares God’s people for his Son whom he would gave to redeem his people. Despite Ruth having no means to provide for Naomi, no means to have a child (being a widow) she binds herself to love. And God honoured her love and provided all that was needed. We should be like Ruth and be committed to loving people as God does, not when we feel like it, not when people are nice, or when people agree. We need to become one eyed about loving the people we dislike, the ones who we think are goofy, hurtful, ugly, and uncool. We need to be committed to making a difference in people’s lives by the quality of our love (kindness) and in this way God will use us to make a difference in this broken world. Love never fails |
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