I love the story of Ruth for several reasons. 1.) It is a picture of the bride of Christ because of the "purchase" or redemption of Ruth and Naomi. 2.) It pictures the love and mercy of the Lord in His care for the widows. 3.) Another Gentile woman is brought in to the lineage of our Saviour. There are more reasons but I've listed enough.
Boaz was so kind to intentionally leave "fruit" for Ruth to glean to help feed herself and her mother-in-law. The Lord does this for us as well. He leaves just little small things that we pick up, one or two at the time, that's usually all we can manage. We can be fed by those things and then come back for more. We read and it seems that He opened the book and pointed out the passage for us. His word truly is alive and sharp.
Lately He has been exceptionally kind in His dealings with me. He has thrown down many good pieces of barley for me to gather. I've picked it up and been very convicted by what He's shown me, but so thankful that He noticed and dealt with me so kindly when He didn't have to. I deserved much less. He knows my flesh and my inability to do anything right and remembers and has mercy.
My eyes are to be constantly and always on Him, not on you or them or even me. Him. I am to follow hard after Him and love Him and choose the better part. Before my own Master I stand or fall.
His word is a mirror of my soul and if I look into it long enough I will see my blemishes. These blemishes are removable and need to be removed. :) With the washing of water by the word these ugly spots will be removed by my Groom. Eventually I will be just like He wants me to be, just like Him, but for now I just need to keep looking into that Mirror and allowing myself to be transformed by what I see there.
You see, it's only when we gaze into His holiness that we are able to see our need for Him and His love for us. It's only when we recognize His worth that we can come to understand the true cost of our sin. It's not OUR worth we should be concerned about but His.
"Take heed to thyself. Your own soul is your first and greatest care. You know a sound body alone can work with power; much more a healthy soul. Keep a clear conscience through the blood of the Lamb. Keep up close communion with God. Study likeness to Him in all things." —Robert Murray M'Cheyne
Robert Murray McCheyne was only 29 when he died and yet he had a lot of wisdom and an apparent close communion with God. Why? He spent a LOT of time looking in the Mirror. It is said that he read the Old Testament through once a year and the New Testament and the Psalms twice a year. The saying goes, we are what we eat...well, man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. THAT is where we find life--renewal, power, courage, love, truth...EVERY good thing.
May I do this very thing and find myself being transformed by God's mirror, slowly but surely into the very image of His dear Son.
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