Commitment

Mother's Day luncheon at my home I sat in amazement watching all of my 13 kids serving me and honoring me as their mom! Whether my kids came to me through natural birth or adoption their love and commitment was still the same!

The story of Ruth reminded me of my home that weekend! Ruth's statement of commitment in Ruth 1:16 & 17 says, "But Ruth said: Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever 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 you and me."

The commitment was really towards the God of Naomi but He used Naomi to be the mother, mentor, and the earthly vessel in Ruth's life! Ruth willingly gave up her earthly family, her heritage, and her name to become Naomi's daughter! Ruth left her pagan homeland on her own initiative, despite the protest of her mother in law, in order to come under the wings of God. Ruth offered herself first to Naomi and ultimately to God.

Ruth had no attachments or loyalties to Naomi, per say, but she did so love the God she loved! This is what bonded these two women together! God's word says that Ruth clung to Naomi! That means that nothing could come between them!

A foundation of purposeful love and the outworking of devoted deeds set Ruth's commitment apart from verbal cliches and the whim of momentary emotions.

Ruth's story remains even today! My family is living proof of such a heart warming story! As I was watching my sons and daughters on that beautiful day two weeks ago I realized that the circumstances, events and situations were not that much different than those of Ruth's! They left the gods of their biological parents, wealth, comfort, cars, religion and all for a missionary calling that could only come from Jesus Christ!

My kids willingly accepted an unsettled future and bound themselves to the God we serve! They made a commitment to Jesus Christ and that is what was very obvious on Mother's day! Thinking on that day brings such a joy on my face knowing that my kids who so much served me and sacrificed of themselves to honor me on that special day had an uncompromising commitment to my Savior Jesus Christ! That makes me the wealthiest mom in the world!

Matthew 16:24-27 "Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man will come in the glory of His Father with His angles, and then He will reward each according to his works.

Close and Personal:

1. Who are you committed to?

2. Do you let others, situations, or circumstances dictate your commitment to your Savior?

3. What have you left behind to serve your Savior wholeheartedly?

Dear Father,

Thank you so much for letting us read the story of Ruth! Knowing that we would need to read it over and over again to realize that to live fully for you is not always the most comfortable or accepted by others! May we remember that you gave your home in Glory to come down to live in this wretched world! Thank you Father for your sacrifice and your love and kindness to us!

In Him,