God's Love For You
“I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”
Ruth 1:21
The story of Ruth and Naomi is a story of love and loyalty. It is a love story between people but I want us to focus today on the love story between God and His children. From my childhood, I remember Ruth and Naomi’s relationship. I remember Ruth’s loyalty to her mother-in-law. I remember Ruth’s faithfulness.
It is the month of love; Valentine’s Day is coming soon. If you were to name one person in your life that you loved more than anyone else who would that person be? Maybe it is one person or maybe it is a group of people. It may be your husband, mother, father, daughter, son, entire family, church family, boyfriend, or someone else that means a lot to you. God brings people in our live to share love with. He made these relationships for us to cherish. Ruth and Naomi had a special bond as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. But, throughout this story we see a special bond that I did not see as a child. We see a bond between our loyal and faithful God and His children. It is a love story so deep and passionate that it would far exceed any romance novel.
Ruth 1 starts out with Naomi having everything she could ask for. She has her husband, two sons and their wives. Her life is full and complete. Then the unthinkable happens, her husband passes away and their her two sons die leaving her destitute. Naomi feels like everyone has abandoned her, even the Lord. She fails to see that her daughter-in-law, Ruth, chose to stay with her because she loves her. She misses the forest for the trees. Have you been a situation like this? You feel all alone and you can’t see the people God has put in your life as a companion, someone to help you through your extremely difficult times.
God is showing Naomi His love and she misses the signs for a little while. Are there times when you wonder where God is in your time of need and you miss the fact that He’s there all along? It is kind of like the Footprints poem. It’s easy to forget that our Lord is carrying us through difficult times.
The Hebrew word for God’s love here is chesed. This is no ordinary love; it is stubborn, costly, sacrificial, and voluntary. God showed Naomi chesed. Do you ever wish you could feel His chesed? The verse “His love endures forever” is written in the Bible 43 times. Look at those words “endures forever.” That does not mean that God picks and chooses whom He loves and when He loves them. It does not mean that He loves you when you are faithful and does not love you when you sin. God’s love endures forever and ever and ever. Everyday, every minute He loves you.
Read these love verses:
“Show the wonder of your great love, you and who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.” Psalm 17:7
“May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.” Psalm 33:22
“How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.” Psalm 36:7
“For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.” Psalm 57:10
“You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you…But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” Psalm 86:5, 15
“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:5
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Remember God is always showing you chesed. Even when you cannot see Him, He’s there. Look past the moment you are in and look forward to His deliverance out of your tragic situation.
God worked through Naomi and Ruth’s tragedy to fulfill His plan. He blessed Ruth with a new husband, Boaz. Through this new marriage, the royal lineage of Jesus Christ was formed. By being faithful through all circumstances, God can develop something extraordinary. Don’t miss the goodness God has for you because you’re too focused on the tragedy. I can only say this because I have been there. I have lived through tragedies and am thankful that I am on the other side of them to see how God worked through them. I’m sure there will be more tragedies in my life, and I can use what I have learned in my past to get through each of them.
God is good and He wants good for you.
Digging Deeper:
How do you feel God’s love today?
How can God’s love shine through you this week?
Happy Valentine’s Day!!