2011 November 11 - Morning Manna

Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread. Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. 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. The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. So they two went until they came to Bethlehem.
(Ruth 1:6-19)

Today's Morsel: I really love the book of Ruth. Within its four chapters we find some very good and godly character traits. Loyalty, faithfulness, commitment, candor, courage, initiative, dependability, endurance, unselfishness, and will. It would have been easy for Ruth to turn back. But there was something inside of her that caused her to see and follow through with her commitment to her husband and his family. According to Paul's writing to the church at Rome, Chapter 7, she was free from her vows of marriage. There were no more legal bindings for her to this family, as her husband was dead. But when we look a little closer at the writings, we can see that even though she was loose from the law, she saw that there could be more by continuing on in the law. And even today, some folks discard the law and jump ahead to grace. But you can't have grace without the law being written in your heart and mind, as the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. If you don't understand the law, you won't understand grace. This is why some misuse God's grace, because they don't understand God's law. Paul said, "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet"(Romans 7:7). We don't know a whole lot about Ruth's upbringing through Scripture, but her life reflects somethings that we, as Christians, surely ought to be, know, and do.

Sing: I know the Lord will make a way for me. I know that Lord will make a way for me. If I live a holy life, shun the wrong and do the right, I know the Lord will make a way for me.