Thursday, 31^st August 2023

Andrews Ampomah

TOPIC: LOVE BEYOND BORDERS

THEME SCRIPTURE: “But Ruth said, 'Do not urge me to leave you or to return 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'.” – Ruth 1:16

 

PREPARATORY QUESTIONS:

1. Do you know that God loves you, regardless of your status?

Read Christ's genealogy carefully, and you will find an intriguing composition. You’ll find in it Perez, born from Tamar's deception with her father-in-law.

The narrative also includes Rahab, the prostitute, who showed kindness to the two spies (Jos 2:1). There is also Ruth, the daughter-in-law of Naomi. She was a Moabite, and the Moabites were known to worship foreign gods. The Bible contains many intriguing stories of non-Israelites who were made part of God’s community. Through God's grace, they were grafted into the covenant. This emphasizes Jesus' purpose of redeeming and sacrificing for the sins of the whole world. It affirms the extension of the Father's love to all without regard to status, emphasizing the all-encompassing nature of divine grace.

After convincing Orpah to return, Naomi insisted that Ruth also return to her people and gods.

Ruth was vexed by Naomi's persistence and responded to her mother-in-law with resolute faith: "Do not persuade me to leave you or return from following you. Wherever you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God (Ruth 1:16).” With this declaration, Ruth aligned herself with God's covenant community. She defied Naomi's advice to join Israel and YHWH. She denounced Moab's gods and embraced the One True God. Her faith was so steadfast that she told Naomi that only death could separate them.

Dearly beloved, you may think you are beyond God's grace and redemption.  No matter your current involvements, family history, or transgressions, God loves you and His arms are open to welcome you.

The purpose of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was to reconcile all to God. Why won’t you accept and respond to this profound love? Ruth’s unwavering declaration of faith should serve as an example to all Christians. There are many Christians who have no convictions and are not ready to live and defend what they believe. Are you willing to despise the persecution and the scorn of the world to follow Christ Jesus wholeheartedly? In emulating the example of Ruth, can you say with Paul that: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 8:38-39)?” God bless you!

 

FURTHER READING – Romans 8:36-39

Call to Salvation: Today is your day if you have not received salvation by turning over your life to Jesus Christ. Click here to do so.

 

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:

1. Do you have convictions as a Christian, and how well do you live your convictions daily?

 

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I am grateful for extending Your love that knows no boundaries to save me from the sentence of death into the kingdom of Your dear Son. Help me to live by my Christian convictions by Your Holy Spirit and to make a stand for Christ Jesus daily, Amen.

 

1-Year Bible Reading Plan

2 Kings 5; Lamentations 1; 1 Corinthians 14,