[New post] Ruth: The Romance Of Repentance And Inclusion P3(Loyal Love)
Emmanuel Nyabam posted: " Ruth: The Romance Of Repentance And Inclusion P3(Loyal Love) IN THE days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem of Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, his wife, and his two sons. The man's n"
Ruth: The Romance Of Repentance And Inclusion P3(Loyal Love)
IN THE days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem of Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, his wife, and his two sons. The man's name was Elimelech and his wife's name was Naomi and his two sons were named Mahlon [invalid] and Chilion [pining]; they were Ephrathites from Bethlehem of Judah. They went to the country of Moab and continued there. But Elimelech, who Naomi's husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. And they took wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They dwelt there about ten years; And Mahlon and Chilion died also, both of them, so the woman was bereft of her two sons and her husband. And Ruth said, Urge me not to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God. 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 me from you. Ruth 1:1-5, 16-17 AMPC
This morning we start our journey through Ruth in verse 8. Naomi spoke about Loyal Love that these ladies showed her and her son's. It is from a place of pain and disper but there is a spark that cannot be cut off no matter how you want to do it. This loyal Love is what brought Jesus to the cross even when He asked His father to carry this cup from Him. As we Naomi's arrival home with Ruth the loyal Love child she inherited by marriage, she calls herself Mara saying, God had dealt bitterly with her. The question one would ask from our position today is had God really dealt with her as she claimed?
As I write the gospel artist GUO song croons off speaking of the Kind of Love of God. Satisfied forever is God's plan for humanity and this is entirely captured in the quest for redemption of all men not just Israel. Naomi was a different kind of mother in-law. Her love for God and humanity led Ruth to follow and become a disciple unto redemption. Kind of a type of Jesus and His disciples journey I dare say. God blessed me with such a mother and mother in-love (in-law). Mami ( the Yoruba connotation for my mother) is what I call Mildred Nanbam Makan nee Dalung, who sacrificed all and believed in my dreams as did her dear daughter. She so eased the pain of Mama's passing to glory, she has well covered us all.
It is this sort of loyal Love that caused the entire city of Bethlehem to come out and welcome Naomi and Ruth. Picture it like a state visit of the President where all come out to welcome their August visitor. It was a pain filled joy to return home. So it is easy to see Naomi's reasons for calling herself Mara. Had she known and seen further that her prodigy would bring liberation and untold wealth and children descended of her lineage, she would never had spoken and called herself Mara.
She thus said, I went out full and came back empty. A further mocking and insult to Naomi you know. However this is a sad testament to the modern day Evangelism folk. Naomi like the modern church was looking at numbers, not knowing her relationship and ministry to this Moabitess incubated a future that would bring liberation to the entire world as her seed would bring billions back to God. Elohim, Elyon you remain the same, what an awesome God you are the singer GUO reminds us of the sacrifice of love. Loyal love that while we were yet sinner Jesus came to die once for all, the true sacrifice for our sum total redemption. Naomi said, God testified against her. That is the gravity of sin. Yet her love for God despite sin attracted Ruth to abandon all she knows to follow her.
God of creation there at the start indeed before the beginning of time. With no point of reference, He spoke to the darkness and flashed out the wonders of life we see today. As He spoke billion galaxies were formed. He knows you is what hit me most studying Ruth. His plans are for good and not for evil with a sure and expected end in fact. Is your home today a sort of discipleship zone as Naomi's? Is your life leading folk to God? This one all if us must ponder about it in fact for being there before time began yet God still knows your name and mine. He existed through eternity and still yet knows my name. Loyal Love, this kind of Love I've never seen. This kind of Love no man can give... This is where I leave us today with the thoughts, is my spouse and I leaving a legacy of redemption and the Love of God? That Loyal Love that makes folk turn to Christ seeking salvation as Ruth would eventually bring forth the seed of which we all find true redemption? Shalom
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