Where You lead me-I will go

Ruth has been such a wonderful example of faith. As I had mentioned earlier a summary of all that happened to Ruth just for following the Living God.

The book of Ruth brings out a beautiful picture of a Christian walk....its for those who say to the Lord "Where You lead me-I will go" and are willing to stick by that word. Ruth is a tremendous example of such a person. There was something about Ruth that caused a stir in the village. I am sure it was the fact that she's from the Moabite community and she doesn't know God neither did she know the people of this land, but yet she has come with her mother-in-law committed to her, in life or in death.Above all, she wanted Naomi's God to be her God.

As I see from Ruth's life, things started happening in her life when she took the decision of following Naomi's God(Ruth 1:16). Ruth after reaching Bethlehem, does not sit and relax, but goes out to glean (pick up the lefovers from the harvesters). I wonder, if I was in a strange neighbourhood, a different country, a different people, would I dare to go out like Ruth did, at the mercy of the people there. I don't think so. This shows how completely yielded she was to her decision of sticking with Naomi. At this point she doesn't even know whether the people will like her or not, will someone allow her in their fields or not, will she get food for them(Naomi and her) this day or not, will she earn anything or not.There were too many things that were not in her hands at this point in her life, yet she goes on, out, to accept the decision she took, out to boldly go where no Moabite had gone before.

1. Actions were noted and praised-People around us will see, be it believers or unbelievers. A totally surrendered life to God is always noticeable, always causes a stir and becomes a talk of the town but all were in her favour. A field man says about Ruth "6 The foreman replied, "She is the Moabitess who came back from Moab with Naomi. 7 She said, 'Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.' She went into the field and has worked steadily from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter". As Boaz tells Ruth what he had heard from others ""11 Boaz replied, "I've been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. 12 May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." (Ruth 2:11-12)
2. Unmerited favour comes along-God starts putting people in favor of you, people you might have never met before.As Ruth says to Boaz "10 At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She exclaimed, "Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?" "(Ruth 2:10). Ruth had done nothing to find favor in Boaz's eyes, she was not a regular worker there but she found favor.
3. Protection and Provision-" Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the girls. I have told the men not to touch you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled"(Ruth 2:9). Boaz offered her the protection and provisions for food during her work time.

Lesson:When we take a stand to follow our Living Lord, in life or in death, and our life takes a 180 degree turn from what is familiar, what is known, what is natural, what was usual towards something that is unfamiliar, unknown,unnatural, unusual. A life that solely depends on the nudgings of the Holy Spirit, the voice of God, it turns into a life of blessing, a life which gives joy to others around you and brings blessings upon you.

Not only was Ruth blessed in her work, we later on see as I had written earlier that she becomes a blessing to all of us, in this, that she's the great great great great grand mom of our Lord Jesus. Can you see the impact a life of total surrender can make.