MORE ABOUT YESTERDAY

As I was writing yesterday's blog, I must have written more than is normal for a blog, and the computer refused to write my last couple of lines.  So, I had to go back shorten the blog by a few words in order to make a decent "goodbye."  So, today, I would like to make a couple of comments to add to yesterday's blog about Ruth, and this comes directly from my Bible----


"The Lord enabled Ruth to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.  The village women said to Naomi, 'Praise be to the lord, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer.  May he become famous throughout Israel!  He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age, for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth'.


Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him.  The women living there said, 'Naomi has a son.'  And they named him Obed.  Obed was the father of Jesse, the father of David, who became king." And I add, this king's life was a prelude to the natural life of Jesus of Nazareth.


Study/ "To some, the book of Ruth may be just a nice story about a girl who was fortunate.  But in reality, the events recorded in (the book of )Ruth were part of God's preparations for the births of David and of Jesus, the promised Messiah.  Just as Ruth was unaware of this larger purpose in her life, we will not know the full purpose and importance of our lives until we are able to look back from the perspective of eternity.  We must make our choices with God's eternal values in mind.  Taking moral shortcuts and living for short-range pleasures are not good ways to move ahead. Because of Ruth's faithful obedience, her life and legacy were significant even though she couldn't see all the results.  Live  in faithfulness to God, knowing that the significance of your life will extend beyond your lifetime.  The rewards will outweigh any sacrifice you may have made."


Although I treasure the suggestions made by the study, one thing I want to give to you as comfort--I have not led a perfect life!   Nor do I know any person still alive who has led a perfect life, one that will not give our Lord a raised eyebrow now and then.  No.  I don't believe it possible that any person can be without some kind of bad actions, bad intentions, bad decisions or any other kind of bad.  We are just human and we humans are imperfect in all ways.  But, God knows this, as He made us as we are.  But, he is a forgiving God. BUT, although He forgives, He expects you and me to be repentant of our imperfections. Not being repentant, not working on our imperfections,  is sin.  And the Holy Spirit within us is most helpful in working on those imperfections!


It ain't easy, but it's the right thing to do!


Working on it...


Jo INMN