Short & Sweet: She Follows

Nourishment for the Soul

15 “And she [Naomi] said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said:

“Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you;

For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;

Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.

17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried.

The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”

Ruth 1:15-17

Ruth is a daughter-in-law of Naomi and Elimelech. During a time of famine, Naomi followed her husband from the land of Israel to the land of Moab; a very controversial move. In Moab, Naomi’s two sons married Moabite women; another controversial move.

After the deaths of all three husbands, Naomi decides to follow the stirring of the Holy Spirit and return to Israel; a smart move. However, perhaps fearing racial tensions in Israel, Naomi tells her daughters-in-law to return to Moab. Orpah quickly turns back, but Ruth … she follows.

She follows whom?

At first glance it appears she follows Naomi. When we follow the progression of the verses,

1. Where you go, I go,

2. Where you live, I live,

3. Your people, my people,

4. Your God, my God,

however, we learn she follows Naomi right to the heart of God.

In the eyes of the culture, Ruth has little future in Israel.

1. She’s a woman.

2. She’s a widow.

3. She’s a foreigner.

4. She’s a Moabite.

Despite the strikes against her, Ruth risks everything and she follows. The daughter-in-law of Naomi would rather live as an outcast and follow God in Israel than live in comfort in Moab. Ruth chooses her soul over her flesh.

Thankfully,

God uses anyone who’ll answer His call to follow Him,

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even a foreign widow from a pagan land. In God’s perfect timimg, Ruth marries Boaz, the most eligible man in town and becomes part of the family line of Christ; a scandalous move … the scandalous love of God.

Can we be like Ruth and fly in the face of public opinion and follow God?

She follows.

Action Points:

What steps do you need to take today to follow God?
What do you need to leave behind so you can follow Him?
Are you willing to follow without the approval of others, even the approval of close friends and family members?

Life is sweet.

Short & Sweet: She Sat

Nourishment for the Soul

38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.

39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.

40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”

41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.

42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38-42

I am a list maker; a task oriented kind of girl.

I like getting things done. But, I also know how to take a break and rest. Mary of Luke 10, is that kind of woman as well. She also had her priorities straight – Jesus.

Mary didn’t always have it together, her past is kind of sketch. Her name literally means “their rebellion.” After meeting Jesus, however, she gained a new reputation: the One Who Sat at Jesus’ Feet. She sat.

She sat.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be so connected to Jesus that in order for people to describe you they’d have to mention, “Oh, that’s Mary-who-sat-at-Jesus’-feet. She sat. What did Mary do while she sat? She heard the Word. She heard the Word from The Word.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God, and the Word was with God.

Can you imagine?

Martha tells on her.

Martha is busy with much serving …on her feet … distracted.

Mary is busy with God … at His feet … filled.

She sat.

“Mary has chosen the good part, and it will not be taken from her.”

We get to choose too.

Action Points

The key to life is spending more time at His feet than on your feet. How can you make time to sit at His feet?
What gets in the way of spending more time at His feet?
What phrase characterizes your life now? _______________ How would people describe you? She/He ____________.

Life is sweet.

Scripturegraphics: To-Do List

I am a list maker. Each morning, in the summer, when I get up in the morning, I make a to-do list. I list all of my chores and tasks I want to complete that day. I even assign time allotments for each item on my to-do list. My to-do lists aren’t just for chores however; fun activities are also included. Piano practice, painting, bike rides and walks in the woods make the to-do list.

God is also a list maker; the Ten Commandments, of the Old Testament, is a very well know to-do list. In the New Testament, Jesus adds to the commandment to-do list with 1. Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and 2. Love your neighbor as yourself.

In Matthew 5, Jesus continues to challenge the culture with new directives (a new to-do list of sorts) concerning our enemies … and this one is a challenge. It involves grace. love. mercy. All the things we usually least feel like showing an enemy. This to-do list even has a time allotment–always.

To do the Scripturegraphic Bible study, The To-Do List, please click on the link below.

Bible Scripturegraphic: The To-Do List

1 Thessalonians, A Life of Faith, Part 16: The Quiet Life

I love the quiet. As a busy teacher, who spends much of the school year with noisy, energetic children, I long for peace and quiet. The quiet life. God also loves quiet and wants us to live the quiet life. In the stillness of the quiet life, we can hear God’s voice speak words of life and hope.

Even though God calls us to live the quiet life, that doesn’t mean we are to be silent. In season and out of season, we need to be ready to tell everyone we meet about the grace we have found in Jesus Christ.

Even though our lives are quiet, our character, words, and our actions should speak loudly of the Gospel.

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So how do you live the quiet life, and yet speak loudly of the kingdom of God? God’s Word contains the answer. To continue your study of 1 Thessalonians, A Life of Faith, please click on the link below.

1 Thessalonians Part 16: The Quiet Life

Take 5!: Perfected by Mary Kane

Please take 5 minutes and go before God in prayer. Confess to Him any sin and ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit. Please read 1 Peter 5:6-10.

What does God ask us to do in verse 6?

In the original Greek, the word humble transliterates as tapeinoo, which means “to make low, to bring down one’s pride, to confess one’s spiritual littleness and need for God, to submit one’s self to the power and will of God.”

What is a sign that we have humbled ourselves to God (verse 7)?

When we have truly humbled ourselves before God, peace will result. We will no longer strive and labor to solve our own problems according to our will ( we are perfected by peace). Having cast our cares upon God, we will wait in peace for Him to act on our behalf.

According to verse 8, we are to be ______________ and ______________.

The word sober means to be calm and collected. Vigilant means to be watchful. Once we have cast our cares upon God, it is possible to calmly shift our attention to carefully watch for the attacks of Satan.

How are we to combat the attacks of the evil one (verse 9)?

We are to resist him by standing resolutely by faith; not faith in our faith, but faith in our Savior (we are perfected by faith). One of the best ways to resist Satan is the Word of God. Satan speaks lies, we speak truths.

If we stand fast, steadfast in the faith, what will be the final outcome (verse 10)?

God will use the suffering to perfect us in Christ Jesus. Suffering doesn’t destroy our faith, God uses it to perfect our faith. As we struggle and persevere, we are perfected. To God be the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Thank you for joining me today for Bible study.

By Mary Kane
all rights reserved
copyright 2015
www.onlybyprayer.com

Short & Sweet: Shadow of His Wings

Be Merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!

For my soul trusts in You;

And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,

Until these calamities have passed by.

I cry out to God Most High,

to God who fulfills his purpose for me.

He will send from heaven and save me;

he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah

God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!

Psalm 57:1-3

David wrote this Psalm while he was fleeing from King Saul. Where did David take refuge? In the shadow of God’s wings. It is very comforting to me to know that I am safe in the very shadow of His wings. Think of it … He is so powerful and holy, His shadow keeps me safe.

What does it truly mean to hide in the shadow of His wings? I was talking this over with God earlier this week. What does hiding in the shadow of Your wings look like? God’s answer came to me: obedience. Obedience leads to protection; it is taking the truth of God’s Word and acting on it. When I am obedient, I follow exactly in the footsteps of Jesus, so close that I walk in His very shadow… the shadow of His wings. When I am in the shadow of His wings, I can live my life boldly and courageously because I know my God has me covered.

What do we do when we are in the shadow of His wings? We continue to live, breath, serve, minister, fight, stand, pray, love, and rejoice.

Action Points:

What calamities are you facing right now? Are you hiding in the shadow of His wings or are you just hiding?
What steps of obedience do you need to take today?
Pray and ask God to help you access the strength and power He has already provided for your victory over this situation.

Life is sweet.