November 05, 2020
Today’s Reading
Ruth 3:1-5
Chapter 3 is beautiful. It is like a Hallmark movie, but a good one. Ruth has been shown grace by Boaz. The relationship was started in the field and now Ruth wants to strengthen that relationship and go deepen it. Naomi gives her some advice on how to make that happen, and if we look closely, we see some principals we can use if we want our relationship with the Lord to grow. It’s interesting here how Ruth prepares herself to meet Boaz. We also should learn from Ruth and practice these same things as we approach God.
First Ruth washed herself (vs 3.) Just like for any special event Ruth wanted to be clean when meeting Boaz. After being in the field, harvesting and working she would have been dirty, and dusty. She wanted to present herself clean before Boaz. If you and I want to enter into a deeper relationship with God we must cleanse ourselves. We can ask God for forgiveness and ask Him to wash us, but God also expects us to do our part to clean ourselves up (Isaiah 1:16) God will not do for us what we must do ourselves. Only we can put out those things that defile us (we know exactly what they are) Maybe it is cleaning out our library, magazine rack, what we look at online, the shows we watch on TV, the music we listen to and the list goes on. James 4:7-8 tell us we need to separate ourselves from the things that defile us. That is not God’s job it is our jobs. Second Ruth anointed herself (vs 3) Anointing oil speaks of the presence and working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. All believers have received the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and that should lead us to live a life set apart to God. The problem is we, as God’s people, try to do the Lord’s work without the power of the Holy Spirit, because so few of us are Spirit filled and Spirit lead. While on earth Jesus lived His life and did His work through the power of the Holy Spirit. If Jesus needed the Holy Spirit how much more do we need Him? Do we pray without the power of the Spirit? Witness without the power of the Spirit? Can we truly fellowship with our Father without the power of the Holy Spirit? Third Ruth changed her clothes (vs 3), we don’t have room to write everything here that I’d like to, but if you are interested look into the ceremonial changing of clothes. Adam and Eve tried to cover themselves but that was not good enough. We can’t approach God in our own righteousness is basically what we are saying here. We can only approach Him in the righteousness of Jesus. Finally, Ruth promised to obey (vs 5) She was not only a hearer of the Word but a doer also. I will end with this quote from Warren Wiersbe “A willingness to obey the Lord is the secret of knowing what He wants us to do and being blessed when we do it.” How are you approaching a deeper relationship with God? Hopefully these four things Ruth did will help us in our walk with the Lord as well.
Frank Newsome