God’s Love – Word for the Soul

Read: Ruth 1:1-18 NLT – Elimelech Moves His Family to Moab – In – Bible Gateway

“But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.’” Ruth 1:16 NLT

‘“Yes,’ Jesus replied, ‘and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.’” Luke 18:29-30 NLT

Our current society has helped drive families apart with a selfish attitude towards others, it’s a ‘me first’ society. Over time some families are restored but there needs to be forgiveness and a complete ‘same mind’ agreement for reconciliation. Many families struggle with problems in the home, forcing some to abandon their family, leaving them all behind. Societal ills make up most family break-ups today, but believe it or not, a deep faith in God and trusting in His Son Jesus for salvation made up the rest.

The book of Ruth gives us one of the earliest pictures of someone leaving their family to serve the Lord God of heaven. Ruth, a Moabite woman, became a widow at a young age. Her mother-in-law, Naomi, was returning to her homeland in Judah from where she, her husband and their two sons left due to a severe famine. Ruth wanted to return with Naomi back to Israel. She had a great love for her mother-in-law, but also a great love for God. Perhaps Ruth saw something in Naomi even through the bitterness of her sorrow of losing her husband and two sons that caused Ruth to say, “Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” (Ruth1:16b nlt) Ruth left her family behind to serve and worship God.

Jesus confirms there is a cost in following Him. In speaking to His disciples Jesus acknowledged there will be those who leave their families for the sake of the gospel, but they will be richly rewarded. Some will leave in pursuit of ministry work for Christ, but some others will be forced to leave their families who have rejected them for following Christ. If you are in this latter group know that Jesus understands, for He was also rejected by His family. Continue to follow Jesus, pray for your family, and don’t look back.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6 NIV

Living in the 21^st century there is no shortage of things to do. If looking to be entertained, there are thousands of choices to choose from, such as movies, concerts, sporting events, shopping, going for a drive, or staying home and accessing your hundreds of choices on your Smart TV. Getting away for the weekend has an abundance of venues to choose from and places to stay. Spending quality time with friends and family is always a good choice and fulfilling.

Despite the many things we do in life, entertaining ourselves, enjoying family time, achieving success in our jobs and careers, why do some people still have that empty feeling inside? How many people do you know, or perhaps yourself, that do all they can to enjoy life and live it to the fullest, and confess they still have this empty feeling. There is no fulfillment, something is missing. They need to find that missing piece to life’s puzzle. It happens more than you know and to more people than you may think. If you are not surprised by this, you may be one in need of fulfillment.

You’ve heard the cliché, ‘looking for love in all the wrong places.’ Well, it fits here. It is not that the above examples are ‘wrong places,’ they are not. But you will not find complete fulfillment in any of them until the major piece that completes the puzzle is put in place. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Mt.5:6 nlt) Jesus equates being filled with desiring righteousness. True fulfillment of one’s life occurs when Christ’s righteousness is applied to our lives as we accept Him as Lord and savior. That empty feeling disappears. What we thought would bring us fulfillment suddenly doesn’t seem so important anymore when put in proper perspective.

If you’re struggling with that empty feeling why not look for fulfillment in the right place by looking to Christ and desiring His righteousness. It’s the missing piece you need in your search for fulfillment.

Tag: God’s Love

Leaving Them All Behind

Feeling Empty; the search for fulfillment