As human beings, we often desire companionship. We desire to be a part of a circle of friends. As we want companionship and to be a part of a circle of friends, we often have “requirements” or desires we want. I could recall saying that within my mate, I desired a God-fearing woman, one who would love me for me, flaws and all, one who would add to me and not subtract, and someone who was appealing to the eyes to name a few things. Because God loved me so much, He gave me that in Mrs. Lindsay! Within a circle of friends, I desired to hang around people who would help me grow, ones I could help grow, ones I could glean from in reference to life’s situations, ones who can help me in a critical situation. Fortunately, God has blessed me with a set of friends who fit this criteria of what I desire. If you sat down and wrote down your criteria for a companion and/or set of friends, ask yourself if you are receiving what you desire. In the spiritual sense, God desires a relationship with you. He loves you and He loves me so much that He gave His only begotten Son in Jesus Christ, to die for our sins that we may live again. Within today’s text, we find a tremendous example of a relationship between two people and in turn, would describe the kind of relationship God desires with you.
Today’s main scripture is found in the book of Ruth. Ruth is the third book within the History Books of the Old Testament. This book is one of only two books in the entire Bible that bears a woman’s name as the name of the book, with Esther being the other book. It tells the story of the awesome bond between a Moabitess woman by the name of Ruth and her mother-in-law by the name of Naomi. Within its initial chapter, we find that Ruth and Oprah’s, her sister-in-law, husbands have passed. Through their passing, Naomi has told her two daughter-in-laws that you can go on about your business and leave me. Oprah did leave Naomi, but Ruth did not. Ruth stayed with Naomi until God blessed her kinsman redeemer, Boaz, to find her, and take her as his wife. Within the first chapter of Ruth, Ruth shows us the kind of relationship God desires with you and with me.
The text begins with Ruth saying, “Don’t force me to leave you; don’t make me go home”. One thing I love about God is that He will not impose Himself on you; however, the kind of relationship He desires with you is that He does not want to be out of your life! He wants to be a steady staple in your life! He wants to be the sun you rise to and the moon you go to sleep on! God lets us know in His Word that He’ll never leave us, nor forsake us! God does not want to reside in Heaven and not reside in you! He wants to make your mind, body, and soul His residence! Who would not want to have a relationship with a God like that?
Ruth continues on in the text and tells Naomi, “Where you go, I go and where you live, I’ll live!” Doesn’t this sound like God? Doesn’t it sound like the Father who cares so much for you? Even when you think you are in Hell, God is still there with you! Even when you think no one loves you, God is still there with you! Even when you feel like that you live alone in a house full of people, God is still there with you! Aren’t you glad that no matter where you go, God wants to be there? Aren’t you glad that no matter what goes on that God still wants to reside with you? If you have this feeling of appreciation for your Father and my Father on today, you ought to take 15 seconds and give Him a little praise!
Lastly, the love Ruth had for Naomi showed when she said, “Your people are my people, your God is my god”. Ladies and gentlemen, when you have a real relationship with God, then He loves those who are around you, though He may not be as pleased with the things that are in them! God will love you, but despise the liar in you! God will love you, but despise the backbiter in you! God will love you, but detest the pride that resides in you! Nevertheless, no matter what shape you are in, God wants to love you! He also desires that you make Him your God and that you have no other gods before Him! Not your car! Not your wife! Not your husband! Not your children! Not your church! Not your pastor! He wants to be the only God you thank and the only God you praise and the only God you adore!
In closing, measure your relationship with God with the kind of relationship Ruth had with Naomi and realize that this is the kind of relationship God desires with you! If you have been scared to commune with the Father, I challenge you to step up and commune with Him because He has a great love for you and it’s one that you can take it to the bank and feel everyday!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment