Daily Devotion 1: The Story of Ruth

What does it look like to be a “Loyal” friend? In today's devotional, we will be reading from the book of Ruth in the Old Testament. We have so many places in the Bible that we could look to for examples of true & genuine friendships. Today we will focus on the beautiful & unique friendship of Naomi & Ruth. Naomi was married to a man name Elimelek...we can call him “Eli” for short. Eli and Naomi had two sons. Life seemed really good for their family, but sometimes life can change really fast! Sadly Eli died and Naomi was left with just she & her two sons. What is something that has changed in your life recently? Did that change make you sad or happy? When Naomi's sons grew up, each of them decided to get married. Orpah & Ruth were now in the family. Ten years went by and the sadness returned. This time, both of Naomi's sons died. All that was left in their family was herself (Naomi) and her daughters in law, Orpah & Ruth. She encouraged the girls to return to their families for the support they would need to live, now that both her husband & both her sons had died. A very sad time for the family. Well, the Bible tells us that Orpah “kissed her mother in law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.” Ruth was very loyal & dedicated to her mother in law. Who are your friends? Often we identify people from our school, our sports team, or work as friends, but overlook the very people God has placed right around us that are the most loyal & dedicated in their friendships. Its our family! Yes our family. Our siblings, our mother, our father...or aunts & uncles...even our grandparents that are these people that possibly are our closest, most loyal friends. “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister in law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” But Ruth replied, “ Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.....” “So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter in law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.” Ruth was such a loyal friend to her mother in law Naomi. She had every reason to leave her, but she did not. She stuck it out with her through the toughest times. Who are those friends in your life? If you are not sure, think of a time when you were sick. Who cared for you? Think of a time when you were afraid. Who is it that you wanted to be around for comfort & security? It is those people that are your most loyal friends. Now...let's give thanks to God for those people. Tell Him how thankful you are for each of them because God is the One who placed them in your life! Naomi & Ruth had been through so much. And now they were arriving from a long journey to Bethlehem having nothing. Thankfully, they found a relative that allowed Ruth to pick up scraps of grain left behind in the field following the harvest (Pictured). God had given them just enough. And things were about to get even better as the story continues... I hope you will keep reading on to hear it for yourself! *Don't be discouraged. Changes can be really tough. Allow God to grow your faith as you press into your “loyal” friendships during all of these changes. Thank God for those friendships, and go give a hug to one of them today! Coach Matt