Hiking in Pearls

Tag: Salvation

  • Lessons from the book of Ruth

    Lessons from the book of Ruth

    Part 1 – Commitment

    As I meditate on the four chapters contained in the book of Ruth, the Lord continues to show me truths that apply to what our life and relationship with Christ should look like, now, as we live for His kingdom purposes in this foreign land.

    The definition from Oxford Languages explains the word commitment as the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.

    Back Story: The book of Ruth opens with a famine in the land of Israel. Preservation in mind, Elimelech gathers his wife Naomi and their two sons and journey to Moab. Moab was a pagan nation birthed from the incestuous relationship the daughters of Lot had with their father after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. (Genesis 19:29-38) The Moabites did not serve Yahweh the God of Israel but instead served the false gods Chemosh and Astarte. In the time span of about 10 years, Naomi’s husband and two sons die, leaving her and her two Moabite daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth widowed. With empty hands and a report that the famine in Israel is over, Naomi releases Orpah and Ruth to return to their families and to the gods of their land as she is resolved to return to Israel. Orpah kisses Naomi goodbye but Ruth clung to her mother-in-law.

    And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for wither 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, if more also, if ought but death part thee and me. When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. (Ruth 1:16-18 KJV)

    What I see with Ruth is that her life was not altered until she made a commitment to Naomi that she would follow her, even to death. However, greater than her commitment to Naomi was her commitment to The One True God, The God of Israel. It was at this moment when she made a commitment to follow Him, that He became her God. Her life was radically altered, and she began to live in the blessings and favor of God.

    So, it is with us, we can live a mediocre life with the knowledge of who God is, but it isn’t until we make that full commitment, when we take a stance and say, “You alone God, will I serve. You alone, will I live for. You alone, will be my God,” that our life takes on new form. Once we make a steadfast declaration to God, to live this moment and every future moment dedicated to Him, we enter into a place where spiritually we begin to glean in the fields of The Lord Most High.

    I’d like to encourage you to evaluate where you stand before God, right now.

    Are you like Orpah, who knows of God but would rather return to the familiar things that this world has to offer, or are you like Ruth, who is ready to forsake all things to pursue the Living God, the True God Jehovah?

    As I think back, I can still clearly see the moment that I fully committed my life to the Lord God. When similar to Ruth, I made the decision that I would stand for God alone, that He would be my God. I drew my line in the sand, and nothing has been the same since. He is my All in All, everything else is dust. I implore you today, to make a commitment to the Lord, to pursue Him with every fiber of your being and to serve Him alone. I promise you this, you will never regret selling out for the Kingdom of God.

    And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. (Matthew 19:29 KJV)

  • Lessons From The Silence

    Lessons From The Silence

    And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy;

    Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

    And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said,

    Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up they bed, and go unto thine house.

    And he arose, and departed to his house. (Matthew 9:2-7 KJV)

    Read it again. Did you catch it?

    Salvation came before the healing.

    There are so many scriptures that swirl through my mind as I read the passage above. I think of Proverbs 13:12 KJV Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. My heart sinks with the man who had the palsy and the hearts of his friends, hope deflated as they looked on. They knew this man Jesus of Nazareth would heal their friend.

    I can almost hear the banter as they carried their paralyzed friend to Jesus, “You know, after the Rabbi heals you, you can carry me around for once!” “Yes, you can use your legs and bring me a meal!” another jested as laughter filled the dusty streets.

    But the healing didn’t come at first.

    “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.”

    Were the words uttered before the room fell to a deafening silence. It is in this brief moment of silence that a great lesson is uncovered.

    It was never about the healing.

    Jesus came to show us the way to The Father and bring salvation to the captives. Yet it seems in the process of time, in the moments of silence we have forgotten our joy should be rooted in our salvation. We have left our first love and we have run after the gifts, after the blessings rather than The One who Blesses and in doing so, our hope is deferred and our hearts sick.

    We mumble of our discomfort as our Heavenly Father allows a burden to be placed on our back. We buckle under the weight and joy is erased from our minds. I think at times, the healing doesn’t come and the silence stretches on through the months and often years because we have elevated the healing to the place of a god and we chase after it rather than pursuing the Lord God. We no longer meditate on the Lord, but on our sickness. Our discomfort has been given place to dominate our thoughts.

    Jesus reminded the seventy in Luke 10:20 KJV,

    Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

    It has always been about Jesus and the salvation that He alone offers. My prayer is that as trials and tribulations come, we learn to suffer well. I am reminded of the words of Paul in Philippians 4:11-13 KJV, Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state that I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

    Jesus, being our living example showed us how to suffer well as His blood poured into the earth from the cross. The very place from which a new word, excruciating meaning “at the cross” had to be created in an effort to communicate the pain in which He endured on our behalf. It was here, He prayed for those who parted His raiment and cast lots as He offered,

    “Father, forgive them; they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34 KJV)

    He gave hope to the thief beside him when He uttered the words,

    “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise,” (Luke 23:43 KJV)

    In a time of great distress for Mary, Jesus brought comfort to His mother as He called out,

    “Woman, behold your son!” Then to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” (John 19:26-27 KJV)

    Father God, I thank You for Your patience with us, Your children, as we learn to suffer well. As we learn to endure. Father forgive us for the many things we’ve allowed to distract us from You, the joy of our salvation. Teach us Lord to glorify You in the moments of silence and to offer hope to those around us just as Jesus did from the cross. Remind us again that it is the Joy of the Lord that is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:10 KJV) Lord, we love You and praise none other but You alone, our Lord, King, Savior and God. May we abound in all things as You strengthen us whether the healing comes or not. Lord let us wait on You alone. May our hope rest in the salvation You have so freely given us. Let us hope in nothing less, so that when we lay down this flesh and step into eternity with You that our desire will be fulfilled and be a tree of life as we stand in the courts of heaven. Let us never forget the words of Your Son Jesus Christ, “Be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee.” Amen.

    For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18 KJV)