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Learning From God's Word: Ruth

Ruth 1:1-22 Following the triple tragedy of the deaths of Elimelech, Mahlon and Chilion (Ruth 1:3-5) and the departure of Orpah (Ruth 1:14), there was a new beginning for Naomi and Ruth. This new beginning came to them when "they came to Bethlehem" (Ruth 1:19). The town of Bethlehem marked a new beginning for them. It marks a new beginning for us. This was the place where our Saviour was born. "They happened to to enter Bethlehem just when the barley harvest began." The timing of their arrival turns our thoughts towards fruitfulness. We come to our Saviour - born at Bethlehem, and He makes us fruitful in His service. Without His help, we cannot even begin to see a harvest gathered in for Him. If we are to see the Lord's blessing on the work we do for Him, we must look to Him, putting our trust in Him. Ruth 2:1-4:22 This is the story of Ruth and Boaz. It is a story which leads on to David (Ruth 4:22) - and, beyond him, to Christ. In this st...
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Wisdom from God, Glory to God

"“We both had dreams,” they (the butler and the baker) answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”" (Genesis 40:8).  The interpretation of their dreams didn't come from Joseph. It was given to Joseph by God. There's an important lesson for us here. We must not claim to be wise in ourselves. We must pray that God will give to us His wisdom: "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you" (James 1:5). The wisdom comes from God. The glory goes to Him.
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Don’t stop believing in God's love. He’ll never stop loving you.

Jeremiah 31:15-20 The human situation, the divine solution * “She refuses to be comforted” (Jeremiah 31:15). Often, we dig a hole for ourselves. * “Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears” - This is what “the Lord” says to us (Jeremiah 31:16). If anyone else says this to us, we might well say, “It’s all right for you to say that. You’re not suffering like I am.” God gave His only Son - to die for us. He knows what we’re going through. He’s been there, and He hasn’t forgotten it, He came out the other side for us - the resurrection. * “They shall come back from the land of the enemy; there is hope for your future” (Jeremiah 31:16-17) - “more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). How are we to understand our times of suffering? * “You disciplined me” (Jeremiah 31:18) - There is a purpose of God in our suffering. “Bring me back, let me come back, for You are the Lord my God” (Jeremiah 31:18) - the story of the prodigal son, your s...
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Give thanks to the Lord.

Joel 2:21-32 Give thanks to the Lord (Joel 2:21). Joel 2:22-24 - Harvest is a special time for giving thanks to the Lord. * We look back from the harvest, and we see the character of God (Joel 2:13). * We look forward from the harvest - to greater blessing: spiritual as well as material (Joel 2:28-29). Note the way of salvation - “Call on the Name of the Lord, and be saved” (Joel 2:32).
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Jesus’ question, our answer

“Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you going to leave me?” Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You alone have the words that give eternal life. We believe them, and we know that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:67-69). Jesus put a question to the Twelve. He puts the same question to us. Simon Peter gave his answer. We are to give our answer. May our answer be the answer of faith, the answer of discipleship.
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Salvation is from the Lord.

Jonah 2:1-10  "Salvation is from the Lord" (Jonah 2:9). Salvation comes first, then there is service. Before his prayer "from inside the fish" (Jonah 2:1), Jonah was running away from God. He wasn't serving God. Before we can do something for God - serving Him, He must do something for us: He must save us. Jonah's prayer comes from "out of the depths" (Psalm 130:1). In the depths, he finds that "there is forgiveness with God" (Psalm 130:4). With God's forgiveness comes hope for the future (Psalm 130:5,7). This hope comes from God's "faithful love" and His "abundant redemption" (Psalm 130:7). Jonah's experience was a physical deliverance. He should have been dead. He remained alive. There was more than that. The man who came out of the fish was different from the man who was swallowed by the fish. He had been disobedient. Now, he was obedient - and blessed.
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God's love doesn't change with the weather or our changing circumstances.

Lamentations 3:19-33 Do you want to "become depressed" (Lamentations 3:20)? - Keep on remembering the bad things that have happened to you. Do you want to be lifted out of your depression and into the joy of the Lord? - Remember this: God loves you. God's love is a "faithful love" (Lamentations 3:22). It doesn't come and go. It doesn't change with the weather or our changing circumstances. "The Lord is good to those who wait for Him" (Lamentations 3:25) - God is good, but we need to learn to wait on Him, if we are to appreciate His goodness. "Be silent" (Lamentations 3:28). Less complaining - all this shows is that we're seeing things for our own point of view. "He will show compassion according to His abundant faithful love" (Lamentations 3:32 ) - This is God's point of view.
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