Timeless KingdomSample

By all accounts, Ruth didn’t have a lot going for her. First off, she was from Moab, not Israel, so to her neighbors, she was not to be considered a faithful member of their community. She was also a widow with no children, and she was the sole provider for her mother-in-law, Naomi. That meant she had no wealth and no absolute security. She spent her days in someone else’s field trying to scrounge enough food to survive for another day. On the social ladder, Ruth wasn’t even on the bottom rung. But Ruth had one crucial thing going for her: She had decided to become a follower of God. Though she could have gone back to Moab and made a new life for herself, she told Naomi she would go with her instead. And yes, in her obedience, God had a role for her to play in the story of redemption He was writing.

Through small acts of trust, Ruth became the wife of Boaz, the mother of Obed, and the great-grandmother of King David. Ruth even found a spot on Jesus’ family tree. To most people, Ruth was a misfit, an outsider, the sort of woman you might pass by on the street without giving a second look. But God saw her and loved her, and He set aside a place of honor in His kingdom just for her.

This week, read Ruth’s full story in Scripture. Ask God to show you how He may be using you in ways you don’t yet see or recognize. Pray that you would be faithful to follow His leading.