Classy with a Dash of Quirk

What would be your favorite book of the Bible. Everyone has one that is special, meaningful, or they just like. Mine would be the book of Ruth. As I said earlier today, our guest preacher talked about that yesterday. Normally, I won't talk about sermons and things (though it is nothing against Pastor Jeff:) but today, I just wanted to impress something that I was again reminded of.
I have read the story of Ruth many times, but it wasn't until sometime either last year or two years ago, when the story came alive for me. I was going through some really rough times, personally and as a whole family. Dad was without work, we had moved twice, and I was in a church body that was rather oppressive and totally opposite of the way I was being raised and encouraged. Anyway, I began doing a study called Journeys of Faithfulness, Sarah Clarkson (which I highly recommend.) It went into the lives of Mary of Bethany, Mary, Jesus's mother, Esther, and Ruth. Looking back, I can see that Jesus's mother and Ruth ministered the most to me. (I am straying from what I wanted to talk about! That always happens!:)
What struck me was Ruth 1:16-17: But Ruth replied, "Don't ask me to leave you and turn back. I will go wherever you go and I've wherever you live. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God. I will die where you die and will be buried there. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us." (Great wedding verse, but that's not the point right now.) These verses showed Ruth's unswerving devotion to Naomi and to the Lord. Ruth was more than willing to abandon all that she knew as familiar and normal, in order to follow what God's path appeared to be. Can you imagine how hard that would be? I have often had upheaval in my life, and it is difficult!!! Change is always hard to get accustomed to, and I am sure Ruth knew that. Yet, she would not be swayed; she went, depending on the Lord, her God, to see her through.
This ministered to me in that 1.) The Lord is ALWAYS with us. He holds us in the palm of his hand, and he gives us the strength to go on in all the seasons of life, whether they be joyous or painful. Nothing is too big that makes him appear small. Ruth entered into uncharted waters, but she knew that called her to it, and she would be ok, regardless. The most happy part is 2.) that Ruth's obedience and ultimate faithfulness led her to great rewards. She wound up marrying Boaz, and bearing him a son named Obed, "who had a son named Jesse, who had a son named David." She was the great-grandmother of King David, the man after God's own heart, and a descendant listed in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings! What an awesome privilege, but what would have happened if she had stayed behind in Moab? Who's to say.?
The point is that she did not stay behind, and she was ultimately rewarded for her obedience. That's why my verse on my blog is Galatian 6:9 : "Let us never grow tired in doing good, for we will receive a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time." This is a promise; it was fulfilled for Ruth (though written in the New Testament) and it will be for you and me. So, my encouragement is that keep on following the Lord and doing what he asks; you wouldn't be disappointed. Not only might you attain an earthly reward, you might hear him say in the end, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" What's more amazing than that?! Yet, don't do the right thing for that reason. We are called to obey His call and leading, so how can we not?