God Doesn’t Forget His Kindness

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Monday January 23, 2017

Topic: God Doesn’t Forget His Kindness

Text: Ruth 2:18 – 23             

There are some lessons in our text for the day.

1. Ruth brought back to Naomi, food provided for her by Boaz. She didn’t keep it back for her later use but for her mother in law. We should be magnanimous to share our blessing with our loved ones in the family.

2. Though Naomi was bitter about events in Moab (1:20-21), but her faith in God was still alive, as she praised God for Boaz’s kindness to Ruth. She still trusted God. We may feel bitter about a situation, but we must never despair. Today is a new opportunity to experience God’s care and love.

3. Naomi asked Ruth how her day went and where she gleaned. Parents and guidance should examine their children, as Naomi did, not to frighten or discourage them but to commend them if they have done well, and with mildness to reprove and caution them if they haven’t done well.

4. Ruth went to glean, not knowing where to go and it just happened she went to the field owned by Boaz who just happened to be a close relative of her late husband. This was more than mere coincidence. It was God leading her.

Today, as you go about your daily tasks, God is working in your life in ways you may not even notice. We mustn’t close the door on what God can do. Events do not occur by luck or coincidence. We should have faith that God is directing our lives towards what He has purposed for us.

Food for Thought: Events we see as luck or coincidence are directed by God to fulfil His purposes in our life.

Memory verse: Ruth 2 verse 20 - And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, the man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen (ESV).

Prayer: Direct my steps O Lord my God to the place you have prepared to bless me this day in Jesus name.

Unprecedented Favour

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Sunday January 22, 2017

Topic: Unprecedented Favour

Text: Ruth 2:14 – 17           

The favour Boaz showed Ruth continued at mealtime when he invited her to eat with the reapers. She ate and also kept for Naomi. Some would have eaten everything after all she is at home doing nothing but not Ruth. It was as if Boaz was uncomfortable that he has not done enough for Ruth, (just like King Ahasuerus on the night he remembered Mordecai) that he gave approval for Ruth to glean. 

In his words, he commanded his reapers saying, "Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her." This act of Boaz is unprecedented because he just met Ruth, a foreigner for the first time. This shows that when our ways are pleasing to God, He can do anything for us. 

On the day I wrote this devotion, a man walked into my house and after exchanging pleasantries, brought out an envelope, counted N25,000:00 and gave to my family. I looked at the man, he wasn’t indebted to me. He just woke up, walked to my house and gave my family N25,000:00. I concluded that it was God working in my favour. God will work for you this day in Jesus name. 

Ruth obeyed the leading of God and “Line started falling for her in pleasant places.” Are you ready to allow God work for you or you want to help yourself? Some ladies would have started flirting about but not Ruth. Humility, industry, obedience, etc., pays.

Food for Thought: Proverbs 11:25

Memory verse: Ruth 2 verse 16

Prayer: Lord God, show me favour as I go out this day that in all I will do, I will be favour abundantly in Jesus name. Amen.

The Lord Will Repay You

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Saturday January 21, 2017

Topic: The Lord Will Repay You

Text: Ruth 2:11 – 13           

Boaz opened up and acknowledged that he has heard all the works of love shown Naomi since the death of her (Ruth’s) husband and have come to a people whom she did not know before. For this reason he prayed for her as we have in 2:13. Boaz also stated that God of Israel is a refuge to all who come to Him. God rewards affection and love we show our elderly people.

This prayer of Boaz is regarded by some theologians as the key to understanding the purpose of this book; that is to show the sovereignty of God in His relationship with His people. ‘Wings’ symbolizes divine protection (Ps. 17:8; 36:7; 61:4; 91:4). Boaz also recognizes that Ruth’s actions can only mean that she has come to have faith in the God of Israel which confirmed her words in 1:16. All our labours of love are never in vain.

According to Middleton in Quotations, PowerBible CD stated that, “Charity is never lost: it may meet with ingratitude, or be of no service to those on whom it was bestowed, yet it ever does a work of beauty and grace upon the heart of the giver.” Again, “Charity sees the need not the cause” as German proverbs says. We should help people not minding the reward. Definitely, the reward will come at God’s time.

Food for Thought: Hebrews 6:10

Memory verse: Ruth 2 verse 12

Prayer: Lord, remember all my labours of love and reward me accordingly.

Why Take Note Of Me?

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Friday January 20, 2017

Topic: Why Take Note Of Me?

Text: Ruth 2:10           

Ruth clearly overwhelmed by the gesture of kindness she had received from Boaz who do not know her before now, prostrated before Boaz and asks why he is being so kind to her, a foreigner (Ruth2:10). In the real sense, Ruth never expected such kindness, not too early because that was their first meeting and again she is a foreigner who ordinarily could have been rebuffed but it was not so.

Falling on her face was expression of reverence and gratitude common in Israel. Ruth’s life exhibited admirable qualities: She was hardworking, loving, kind, faithful, and brave. These qualities gained for her a good reputation, but only because she displayed them consistently in all areas of her life. Wherever Ruth went or whatever she did, her character remained the same. Your reputation is formed by the people who watch over you at work, in town, at home, in church. A good reputation comes by consistently living out the qualities you believe in, no matter what group of people or surroundings you are in.

Again, we should not give bad impression to visitors we meet because we don’t know what the future holds. If Boaz and Ruth didn’t treat themselves well, the events that unfolded wouldn’t have gone smoothly. Come to think of it, if Ruth had proved stubborn or Boaz maltreated her, what would have happened when Naomi suggested to Ruth what to do to gain inheritance in Israel? Treat everyone you meet well because you don’t know what tomorrow holds for you.

Food for Thought: Proverbs 3:3, 4

Memory verse: Ruth 2 verse 10

Prayer: Heavenly Father; may your favour and that of men follow me wherever I go in Jesus name.

There Was No Ulterior Motive

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL 

Devotion for Thursday January 19, 2017

Topic: There Was No Ulterior Motive

Text: Ruth 2:4 – 9  

Men and women can be used as reapers in the Near East. The binding of the sheaves was normally done by women, the handling of the sheaves by men. The rough male labourers in Israel could be as crude and insulting to young women. However, Boaz spared Ruth from insult and exhaustion by letting her glean right behind his women field workers.

He also provided water for Ruth by urging her to go to the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn. These kind gestures by Boaz had no ulterior motives attached to them. He had heard about so much love, friendship and care Ruth had shown Naomi. These challenged Boaz because such love can hardly be seen between mother in laws and daughters in laws.

This type of kindness that Boaz showed Ruth is no longer or hardly in practice in our communities again. Most men help widows only on the condition that they play games with them. Some of the men would even go as far as withdrawing some of the rights of these women as a means of pressurizing them to yield to their demands. Unfortunately, some of these men are even in the church today as leaders and elders.

Do you attach ulterior motives in the help or charity you offer widows, pastors and the poor in the society? Do you give out your goods because of what you intend to gain? We shouldn’t attach motives to our good deeds. God recompenses and He will recompense us. Let our good deeds speak well of us and not bad of us. God bless you and have a great day.      

Food for Thought: What are the motives behind your alms and charity – to take advantage of people or on humanitarian grounds?

Memory verse: Ruth 2 verse 8 - Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women.”

Prayer: Help me never to attach any ulterior motive to the alms and charity I give to people in Jesus name. Amen.

SHE KEPT SOME BACK

SHE KEPT SOME BACK    Sunday July 19, 2015

Text: Ruth 2:4 – 16              Memory verse: v 14

The moral and kind language between Boaz and his reapers concerning Ruth show that there were godly persons in Israel. Such language as this is seldom heard in our society; too often, on the contrary, what is immoral and corrupt. However, true religion will teach a man to behave aright in all states and conditions. It causes mutual love and kindness among persons of different ranks. 

Ruth exhibited admirable qualities: She was hardworking, loving, kind, faithful, and brave. These qualities gained for her a good reputation, but only because she showed them consistently in all areas of her life. Good reputation comes by consistently living out the qualities you believe in—no matter what group of people or surroundings you are in. Do you have good reputation?

Again, Boaz went far beyond the intent of the gleaners’ law in demonstrating his kindness and generosity. Not only did he let Ruth glean in his field, he also told his workers to let some of the grain fall in her path. Out of his abundance, he provided for the needy. How often do you go beyond the accepted patterns of providing for those less fortunate? Ruth ate the food provided for her with moderation and kept back for her mother in law. She was not selfish. We should not be selfish with what we have.

Food for Thought: Are you selfish with what you have?

Prayer: Lord, remove every form of selfishness in me.