READING: Ruth 1-4
“Your God will be my God.”
Ruth 1:16
The power of the gospel is so often evident when God dramatically changes a heart. We know, for example, that Ruth was a Moabite woman who had married a son of Ephrathites Elimelech and Naomi. As a Moabitess, she was likely raised in a home that worshiped Chemosh and Molech, whose worship included child sacrifice. Something apparently happened, though, when she heard about the true God of the Israelites.
Naomi strongly encouraged Ruth to return to her own people after her husband had died, but Ruth refused with these words: “Don’t plead with me to abandon you or to return and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God” (Ruth 1:16). Some debate whether Ruth was fully converted at this point, but her words certainly speak of her transferring her allegiance from the gods of the Moabites to the God of the Hebrews. Moreover, her commitment to Naomi was also a commitment to God, with Ruth’s being willing to invite God’s judgment if she did not keep her commitment to Naomi. The rest of this book is the story of a Moabitess who followed God—and who became part of the ancestral line of Jesus.
Around the world today are many people who grew up following false gods, but who turned to the God of the Bible when they heard the Good News. In many cases, they have paid heavy prices for their faithfulness. Some have lost their families of origin, but they’ve found new families among the people of God. They’ve met Jesus and His people.
And yet, billions more do not know Him – and still have no one there to tell them the story. This Easter weekend, that reality ought to burden us.
ACTION STEPS:
- Pray for the billions who’ve never heard about Jesus.
- Pray for the missionaries who are striving to tell the gospel story this Easter weekend.
PRAYER: “God, I praise You that You are the only God—and You still change hearts.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Review and catch up day