她們即將離開摩押的那一刻，拿俄米忽然對她的兩名媳婦說：「我雖然很高興有妳們陪伴，但我相信妳們還是回娘家和自己的親族那裡較好。我回到家鄉已是一無所有，不能為妳倆安排美好的將來，妳們還是回去吧！」這是面臨考驗的一刻，每個基督徒都會遇上類似的情況，是神要考驗我們的愛與忠心。這是篩選麥子與稗子的過程。俄珥巴最終經不起考驗，決定離她們而去，回到自己的摩押地。

但路得卻堅定地說：「不要催我回去不跟隨妳。妳往哪裡去，我也往那裡去；妳的國就是我的國；妳的神就是我的神。」

一個接受基督和決志將生命奉獻給祂的人，也可以說出這番動人的話：「主啊，你往裡去，我也往那裡去；你的民就是我的民，你永遠是我的神，你帶領我往那裡去，我也會去。」

神所期望的，正是這種全心全意的委身。半心半意的委身，根本就不是委身。除非我們願意毫無保留地向主委身，祂才能祝福和使用我們。請記著羅馬書十二章1至2節的教導：「將身體獻上，當作活祭。」這正是蒙福之道。

反思：

「主啊，求你幫助我懂得選擇正路而行，就是時刻行在你的旨意中。」

Day 23

RUTH'S DECISION

Ruth 1:8-18

8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each to her mother’s house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.

9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.”
So she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.

10 And they said to her, “Surely we will return with you to your people.”

11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

12 Turn back, my daughters, go—for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons,

13 would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me!”

14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

15 And she 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.”

18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her.

Message

After her husband, Elimelech, and her two boys died, Naomi decided to return to her own land (v. 6). She heard that the Lord had visited his people and her actions became a good example of faith. She heard the good tidings, and believed them. Then she acted upon them-she arose and went back. You can easily imagine Naomi and her daughters-in-law selling their furniture and their house-then saying goodbye to the neighbours and starting out. It is hard sometimes to leave those we have come to love but God can give something better in the place of the things we leave.

As they turned for the last look at the city where they had lived Naomi said to the two girls, 'Listen girls, I appreciate you coming with me, but I feel you ought to go back to your friends and loved ones. I have no prospects in the land I am returning to. There are none for you. I think you had better go back.' Here was the testing place. It comes in the life of every professing Christian-the Lord allows it to test our sincerity and love. It is the sifting of the grain and the chaff. Orpah couldn't stand the test. She bade them goodbye-and returned to the land of Moab.

But listen to Ruth, 'No I am not going back. Please don't make me. Wherever you go, I will go. Your people will be my people and your God, my God.' Aren't those wonderful words? They could be said by someone accepting Christ and giving their lives to him. 'Wherever you lead me, I will go. I will make your people my people and God will always be my God, no matter where he may lead me.' That is commitment and that is what God asks for from everyone of us. Half-hearted commitment is not really commitment at all. It is only as we give ourselves wholeheartedly to Christ that he can bless us and use us. Remember the words of Romans 12:1-2-'Present your bodies (and everything we are and have) wholly unto the Lord'. That is the way of blessing.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

'Lord help me always to choose the right path-the path of your will.'