Part 25

----The series on Ruth began in Part 10---
“I will give you treasures of darkness and hidden riches of the Secret Place, that you may know that I, the Lord, Who calls you by your name, am the God of Israel.”  Isaiah 45:3

“Her mother-in-law asked her, ‘Where did you glean today?  Where did you work?  Blessed be the man who took notice of you!’  Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working.  ‘The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz,’ she said.  ‘The Lord bless him!’  Naomi said to her daughter-in-law.  ‘He has not stopped showing kindness to the living and the dead.’  She added, ‘That man is our close relative; he is one of our kinsman-redeemers.’  Then Ruth the Moabitess said, ‘He even said to me, ‘Stay with my workers until they finish harvesting all my grain.’’  Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, ‘It will be good for you, my daughter, to go with his girls, because in someone else’s field you might be harmed.’  So Ruth stayed close to the servant girls of Boaz to glean until the barley and wheat harvests were finished.  And she lived with her mother-in-law.”  Ruth 2:19-23

Naomi noticed…she saw the kindness that had been shown to Ruth, the abundance of grain and bread Ruth brought home; however, I am sure Ruth also looked different when she returned back to her mother-in-law’s home.  When she left that morning, she was uncertain of what she would find, uncertain of where she would go, and uncertain of her future.  She was a frightened young girl in a new country with absolutely no means of support, yet when she returned, she must have been radiating joy.  She stepped out in faith, stepped out of the boat, and with the water splashing around her feet, she found solid ground. 

Naomi had to know:  Where have you been today?  Where have you been working?  Who has taken such notice of you?  “Oh, I have heard of him!  I know him!  He is one of our kinsman-redeemers…but how did you ever find him?  Does he know who you are (a foreigner)?  Does he know where you have been (in a foreign land)?  Oh, it doesn’t matter, as long as he has shown you this great kindness – you must stay in his field.  He will be good to you and good for you.  Stay close to him.  He will not allow any harm to come near you.”

Remember that Naomi had re-named herself Mara (bitter)?  She did not think God cared about her and her circumstances.  She was far away from intimacy with the Father; yet she noticed something different in Ruth and for Ruth…Who?  What?  Where?  When?  How?  She recognized the man she had been far away from for a very long time.  Oh…maybe God does care, after all.

Even when we are far away, in a distant land from the Father, it is not hard to recognize when someone else has been in His presence (like Ruth).  

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…Do not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”  Galatians 5:22; 6:9-10

And even when we are far away, in a distant land from the Father, He still sends hard-working disciples, whom He has blessed, to encourage us (like Boaz).

“Remember this:  Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make ALL grace abound to you, so that in ALL things at ALL times, having ALL that you need, you will abound in every good work.  As it is written:  ‘He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.’  Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.  This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.  Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.  And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.”  2 Corinthians 9:6-14 

And even when we are far away, in a distant land from the Father, it is not hard to recognize His goodness (like Naomi).

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”  2 Corinthians 9:15 

Does He know who you are? Does He know where you have been?  You bet He knows!    And He wants us more than anything…

Ask yourself:
1)         Am I in a distant land from the Father? (like Naomi)
2)         Am I sowing in His land, discipling others? (like Boaz)
3)         Am I reaping in His land, experiencing the goodness of His indescribable gifts?   (like Ruth)

If we cannot answer “yes” to the last two questions, we are missing out on the abundance of this life, to have it ALL!  God is able to make ALL grace abound to you, so that in ALL things at ALL times, having ALL that you need so that you will abound in ALL good works being made rich in ALL ways!  And what is the definition of All?  All!  His name is El-Shaddai:  All-Sufficient. 

“Blessed be the Man who took notice of you!  It will be good for you, my sons and daughters, to stay close to Him in His field!”