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.

An Industrious Lady

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Wednesday January 18, 2017

Topic: An Industrious Lady

Text: Ruth 2: 1 – 3                 

We find in this book called Ruth, excellent examples of faith, piety, patience, humility, industry, and loving-kindness, in the common events of life as demonstrated by Ruth and Naomi. Now Ruth had made her home in a foreign land. Instead of depending on Naomi or waiting for good fortune to happen, she took the initiative. She went to work. She was not afraid of admitting her need or working hard to supply it.

When Ruth went out to the fields, God provided for her. If you are waiting for God to provide, consider this: He may be waiting for you to take the first step to demonstrate just how important your need is. This is what most people don’t know about Providence. God is ever working.

Again, He has deposited great talents in us to make a living and be a blessing to our generation. Unfortunately, many of us have been blinded to the diverse opportunities beckoning on us. Just as we saw yesterday, we shouldn’t allow our immediate environment, our lineage, etc., to block our view of what lies ahead of us. Ruth went out to work even in a foreign land. Why can’t you work?

On the day I wrote this devotion, I read the story of Jennifer Adokorach from northern Uganda who was paralyzed at 5years as a result of injection in a hospital, but rose through primary school to a university with that paralysis. As she wasn’t employed after studies because she was paralyzed, she started farming and from the proceeds, she opened a hair dressing saloon. She now takes care of her aged mother and her 3 nephews – two in the university and one in secondary school. She is presently contesting for District Councillorship position and hopes to run for the Parliament in future.

If this woman, Jennifer Adokorach can go this far, what stops you? Think about it and be industrious.

Food for Thought: What are your excuses for not working hard enough?

Memory verse: Ruth 2 v 2 - Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favour.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter” (ESV)

Prayer: Make me industrious, O Lord that I will have enough for my family, dependants and the needy around me. Amen.

Call Me Mara

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Tuesday January 17, 2017

Topic: Call Me Mara

Text: Ruth 1:19 – 22  

Naomi had experienced severe hardships. She had left Israel married and secure; she returned widowed and poor. Naomi changed her name to express the bitterness and pain she felt. She was now a woman of a sorrowful spirit. She had come home empty, poor, a widow and childless. This might be the reason for the reaction of people in 1:19. In response, she opted to answer Mara – bitterness. Naomi was not rejecting God by openly expressing her pain. However, she seems to have lost sight of the tremendous resources she had in her relationship with Ruth and with God. 

Most of us face bitter and severe hardship like Naomi did. Some of us have lost all we worked for to fire overnight, some have lost their benefactors, and some have had chains of sicknesses as if they will never end. These notwithstanding, when we face bitter times, God welcomes our honest prayers, but we should be careful not to overlook the love, strength, and resources that He provides in our present relationships. Again, we shouldn’t allow bitterness and disappointment to blind us to new opportunities He gives to us.

Food for Thought: In every disappointment there are opportunities.

Memory verse: Ruth 1 v 19

Prayer: Lord, grant me the grace I need in times of hardship and disappointments never to be blinded to opportunities you will provide.

Your God Will Be My God

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Monday January 16, 2017

Topic: Your God Will Be My God

Text: Ruth 1:11 – 18       

The story of Ruth took place sometime during the rule of the judges that is one reason the book is found immediately after Judges in then scriptures. The period was dark days for Israel, when “the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes” (Judges 17:6; 21:25). That was a clear evidence that the people had forgotten God and the covenant they have with Him. But during those dark and evil times, there were still some who followed God.

In this book of Ruth, Naomi and Ruth were beautiful examples of loyalty, friendship, and commitment; to God and to each other. Within the brief sojourn of the family of Elimelech in the land of Moab, Ruth might have observed them worshipping the God of Israel. That might have left an indelible impression in her and that might have motivated her to kept faith with Naomi despite the ordeals she has passed through occasioned by the death of her husband.

The way we act during ordeals, afflictions, trials and temptations go a long way to affecting people around us either positively or negatively. We shouldn’t undermine what the effect our actions and reactions will have on others. Therefore we should be very mindful of our actions and utterances

Read the words of Ruth to Naomi in 1:16, 17. What could have inspired such words and vow from Ruth? Outside divine revelation, she had noticed the difference between her god and God of Israel. She had also seen the kind of faith exhibited by Naomi.

As Christians, wherever we find ourselves, whether in our locality or outside our locality, we should live well because someone is watching. Do not think you are out of view of your pastor or parents and you can now behave the way you like. Christian lives are gospel message to the world. Our actions speak louder than our voices. Therefore we should be mindful of what we say or do. Our words and actions can either win people for Christ or chase them away.

Food for Thought: Our lives preach better messages than our words.

Memory verse: Ruth 1 verse 16 - But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God (ESV).

Prayer: Almighty God and my Father may my life be a challenge to people I meet on daily basis in Jesus name Amen.

Return To Your People

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Sunday January 15, 2017

Topic: Return To Your People

Text: Ruth 1:6 – 10  

There was almost nothing worse than being a widow in the ancient world even in our present day society. They are still not recognised. They are to be seen and not heard. Widows were taken advantage of or ignored as in the days of Naomi. They were almost always poverty stricken. Some were denied of assess to their late husband’s wealth.

It was for the above reason, God’s law, therefore, provided that the nearest relative of the dead husband should care for the widow; but Naomi had no relatives in Moab, and she did not know if any of her relatives were alive in Israel. However, she decided to go back to Israel.

As she set to go, the daughters’ inlaw, Orpah and Ruth decided to go with her. Though she had right over Orpah and Ruth as daughters in law, she didn’t want to stick to that right. That is a challenge for us in the action of Naomi. Most times, we stick to our right as Christians and that doesn’t work well in most cases. She encouraged them to return to their people to start live anew. This is a selfless attitude that is required to live well as a Christian. Even in her desperate situation, Naomi had a selfless attitude. She would have stood on her right at least to have someone live with her. As she had decided to return to Israel, she encouraged Ruth and Orpah to stay in Moab and start their lives anew, even though that would mean hardship for her.

Like Naomi, we (Christians) must consider the needs of others and not just our own. As Naomi discovered, when you act selflessly, others are encouraged to follow your example. This led to the reaction of Ruth as we shall see tomorrow in our devotion. We should note that service to others is the justification for our existence and self-sacrifice is our highest moral duty, virtue and value which we should show to people we meet on daily basis.

Food for Thought: Selfless acts are always good examples for people especially the goodly, to follow.

Memory verse: Ruth 1 verse 8 - And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.

Prayer: Grant me the grace, O Lord, to consider the needs of others as I take decisions concerning my welfare 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.