April 29, 2022
Dearly Beloved, I greet and bless you in the name of our Creator, Maker, and ever unforgettable Lord Jesus Christ. The blessed word that the Lord has given for you today is from the book of Ruth 1:6.19, “Then she arose with her daughter in law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab, that the Lord had visited His people, by giving them bread.”Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had to come to Bethlehem that all the city was excited because of them, and the women said, Is this Naomi. ”
We are in the time of great expectation. Now is the time to rise up and start a new life. For we need to make a bright future. Behold the past has gone the future is yet to begin. The hope of new beginning is about to start. These were the thoughts running in the mind of Naomi and Ruth. So they left Moab and went to Bethlehem because they heard the good news that God is providing food for the people in Bethlehem. While they lived in Moab they came across many unpleasant happenings in their lives. They were drenched in sorrow, pain, agony and remorse. Their life became miserable. It is in Moab that Naomi lost her husband. Ruth also lost her husband at a very young age. Both were widows. Having lost their beloved ones their heart did not permit them to continue in Moab any longer. They expected a change in their life. They were in a state of pain and despair. They expected that a better day would dawn in their life after having endured much struggle.
The good news of God’s provision of bread, in Bethlehem brought hope in them. Bethlehem which is called the house of bread was the native place of Naomi. But she went to Moab for better survival along with her husband and her two sons. There she got her sons married to girls of Moab. Suddenly her husband Elimelech died. And later her sons Mahlon, and Chilion also died. Naomi and Ruth were left bereaved. Naomi experienced great loss one after another. She was broken in spirit and physically, so she was looking forward for a new beginning. Both Naomi and Ruth did not sit and murmur against God, but they thought about taking the next step to move forward in life. This is the time that they heard that Bethlehem was prosperous and God was providing food for the people there. Immediately taking her young widowed daughter in law she walked to Bethlehem. The Bible says, and so they got up and left. They were making an effort to make a better life, after all the problems they had faced in Moab. To those of you reading this message, I think you too might be facing the same situation as Naomi and Ruth. We heard the cry of death carrying away many beloved brothers and sisters during Covid 19, leaving behind young widows, little children and even helpless elderly people. They were all filled with agony at the loss of their sons, daughters, husbands, wives and other relatives. You too might be experiencing great pain and distress. Though Naomi and Ruth lost everything in their life yet they never lost hope and faith in the true and living God.
Some of you might have lost your job, your wealth, your good health, peace of mind, joy and happiness. Well some of you might have lost your business too, or you might have become bankrupt, You may be in a fix, not knowing what to do. Like these two widows you too might be saying will we ever see, good days in our life. Will a bright future dawn in our life? Then you need to have hope and faith like these two women. In spite of all the troubles, they never lost their hope in God. They had great faith in God that He will surely open a new way for them in the land of Bethlehem. So they moved to Bethlehem from Moab. You may be caught up in sin and sinful deeds. God is waiting for you, to return to Him as these women who returned to Bethlehem. He will forgive you of all your sins, if you will get up from your current helpless situation and come up to Him, He will offer you many good things. Will you get up and come to him; Then He will gladly welcome you and make you ruler over many things.
For those of you who have faced only failures in life, you will hereafter experience victory in all that you do. Those of you who are suffering from continuous sickness, you will enjoy good health in future. God will bring healing into your bodies. God will grant you peace and calmness, instead of storm in your life. If Naomi and Ruth did not return to Bethlehem, then Ruth would not have been blessed by Boaz, who offered her another life. And Naomi would not have been able to fondle a blessed baby boy in her arms. God rewarded their faith. Hope in God is the foundation of strong faith in Him. You too will be blessed and God will help you see better days in life if you will return to God and live a life pleasing unto Him. God Bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Thank you for showing us the way to new life, through the character of Naomi. In spite of all the problems she faced, she had great faith in God. Give us this faith Lord. Help us to walk by faith and not by sight. Teach us to get up from our ordinary and low state of life, to that of rich, upliftment in life. May we too receive such good blessings as Ruth and Naomi received.
In Jesus Name We Pray.
Amen.
