A View through another Window (Careful in your reading - there is a purpose for repetition - Learning!)
"Call me not Naomi (meaning delights), call me Mara (meaning Bitter), for the LORD hath dealt very bitterly with me." Ruth 1:20 Naomi (at this point of her life) had no idea ... at first ... that God had a greater plan; a plan that was far beyond the imagination of creation.
Here is a fact that we must consider: When our delight for life is stripped naked by the bitterness of loss, loneliness and incapacitating pain... unbelief easily wraps its arms around "the broken one" chaining hope in a prison of dark despair. But He, who is altogether lovely in His plans for His kids, is perfect in His deliverance ... if only the darkened eyes will turn to acknowledge His light... And that those, called on to encourage the abandoned, will hear the Voice of the Encourager and rise up to ... Touch!
Don't miss this ... God made it obvious, it is not just a nice story in the Word ... He attached her name to the Book - "RUTH" - for she would do what others could not do, and probably would not do. She saw the unseen rewards of a future with God's "Still small voice", more influential than the loud boisterous lies of temporal pain. And she began the life of the name she was given - "Friendship:
- with the depth of continued companionship
- for the purpose of shepherding
- to the end of Love's protective and nurturing deliverance.
Every component of Ruth's life had made her perfect for God's repurposing of all of her broken pieces (that typically would be an immense handicap in the midst of this world's economy) and place her in God's mysterious eternal plan for His Glory and our good.
"Uniquely prepared by life's experience to be repurposed for the Will of God amidst the conflict of spiritual forces at work in the struggle for the souls of men".
Have you trusted Christ as your Lord and Savior?
Are you feeling the inequities and injustices in the Kingdom around you?
Do you hurt with the hurts of others?
You are strategic; He has and is repurposing you ... You are called to potential discomfort to bring comfort where HE CALLS YOU .... DAILY!
The promise is this
... If God calls us to come beside an embittered one, we will have to have a thick skinned prayer life ... We will have to fight back a river of curses, with many of them seeming to be aimed at us but hang in there - "Though weeping may endure for a night season... Joy comes in the morning."
... We will be part of God's amazing plan to work all things together for the good of "those who are the called according to His purpose"
... We will be those who will hear "Pray as touching"
... We will be those who "Comfort with the comforts of God whereby we keep on being comforted." ... We will experience being "more than conquerors" through Jesus Christ.
Psalm 54:7 - "For He hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen His desire upon mine enemy."
For you, I'm quietly waiting,
For you, I'm weakened by the wonder,
Of you, I know the weight you're under
When He's calling your name.
For you, my heart is breaking ...
For you ... Oh please listen to the Voice of God.
HLFA,
Jeff