"But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back 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.  Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.  Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me."  Ruth 1:16-17
 
 
We currently started a study in this powerful little book in our ladies Bible study and I am so taken with Ruth, such faith and integrity she displays!  What faith it took to leave all she knew to follow her mother-in-law, Naomi, to a land and people she didn't know, choosing to follow the God of Naomi.  The book of Ruth is mainly about redemption and Ruth ends up marrying her kinsman redeemer, Boaz.
 
What a picture this verse is for us regarding our relationship with Jesus.  He desires us to follow and lodge with Him where ever He leads us, His people (the chosen) are our brothers and sisters (in Him), His Father is our Father.  He conquered death so when we die we will live with Him - forever!
 
The book of Ruth ends, ". . . and to Salmon was born Boaz, and to Boaz, Obed, and to Obed was born Jesse, and to Jesse, David."  Ruth 4:21-22  And we know that David, the son of Jesse, became king of Israel and the Son of David is Jesus the Christ; what a legacy!
 
Heavenly Father, may our faith and integrity be like that found in Ruth.  In all we do may it glorify and honor You. In Jesus name we pray.  Amen.
 
Have a most joyous day in our Lord!
April

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The above message is sent to you as an encouragement.  Please pass this on to friends and family.  To add yourself or a loved one to the mailing list reply to  [email protected]  Subject:  "add to"  (or to be removed indicate  "remove")
 
Encouragement From The Heart Website updated March 17, 2000 (note: web address changed).
http://www.geocities.com/correiaville/encourag.html   there's a new page, "The Master's Garden" stop by and check it out!
 
Scripture references (unless noted otherwise): The Open Bible, New American Standard
copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977
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