By Jaime Sherman
Women love love stories whether found between the pages of a book, on the big screen, or from the narration of another person, so it’s easy to approach our study of Ruth as just another book, movie, or conversation. But the book of Ruth is so much more than a love story between a young widow and a much older kinsman redeemer.
It’s a short story of only four chapters wedged between Judges and I Samuel that takes but a few minutes to read; however, we must not allow its brevity to detract from its significance. It’s a story rich with the history of God’s people and His pursuing, redeeming love for them — and for each one of us.
No matter where we are in life right now — whether single, married, divorced, or widowed — we can find ourselves in the story of Ruth because its a story of hope, of being wanted by our living Redeemer. But to best find ourselves in this great love story, we must slow our hurried pace and linger over the little details that flow verse by verse. For…
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. — 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
Each day as we open our Bibles to Ruth, may we ask God 1) to meet us in this story, 2) to reveal Himself to us, and 3) to keep our hearts soft to what He desires to show us that it might change us for His glory and our good.
Dear Father, Please meet me in my study of Ruth today. Grant that I may see You and Your overarching, amazing, redeeming love with a new set of eyes. I want my heart to be pliable, always ready to be fashioned by You. Show me today how You want me to live differently because I’ve come face-to-face with You in Your Word. In Jesus Name, Amen.