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This is one of my favorite questions in the study guide:

“If Naomi knew that following God was more important than the comforts of Earth, why do you think she urged Orpah and Ruth to return to their people and their gods?”

As I was writing that question, I was thinking about the seeds and the soil, but I was also reminded of a passage from Matthew Chapter 8:

“When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” Matthew 8:18-22, NIV

 When someone expresses a desire to follow God, there’s a selfish part of me that wants them to commit before they change their mind. Say a quick prayer together, leave it at that, and then go tell my friends that I won someone to Christ. But then, there’s a better part of me that’s not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

God’s Word doesn’t need an editing process. It’s divinely inspired and so it’s important to share the gospel in its entirety. To tell others that repentance is more than a prayer; it’s turning away from sin and leaving it behind.

When Naomi spoke to the girls, in essence, she was doing this. She was pointing out that following God means leaving Moab (representing a life of sin) behind. There was a cost in doing so as they would leave the comforts of home behind.

That cost will look different for all of us. For some, it’s breaking away from a false religion we grew up in. This can be so difficult when we’ve got roots in that community. For others, it’s breaking away from sinful activities. Friends want to know why we aren’t doing the things we once did or going to the places we went. Our answer to them may cause resentment.

But here’s the beautiful part: the story doesn’t end with sacrifice and hardship. It blossoms into redemption and blessing. Ruth’s choice to stay with Naomi, leaving behind her familiar world, mirrors our own journey of faith. When we choose to follow God, we embark on a path that is not always easy, but one that leads to spiritual riches and a deeper relationship with Him.

So, while this decision can indeed cause upheaval in our relationships and our lifestyle, it also opens the door to a life of greater purpose, peace, and joy. In sharing the full gospel, we invite others not just to a challenge, but to a life-transforming journey with Christ.

Billy Graham once said, “God has given us two hands, one to receive with and the other to give with.” As we follow Christ, we receive His grace and give of ourselves in His service. The beauty of the Christian journey is in this balance of receiving and giving, of embracing the cost while experiencing the indescribable joy and peace that comes from a life lived in close communion with God.

This Week’s Printable

Here is this week’s printable. Click the image to view and print a higher resolution.

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