Quote for the Day

“You have given me comfort and have spoken kindly to your servant…”

Today's Prayer

This week pray for those on the road that they will be able to display God’s comfort and kindness to the individuals they encounter. Ask God to open their eyes to opportunities to show His character. Pray for those at home that they will be gracious in accepting the gifts God gives them as their loved ones are away.

Ruth 2:13-23

Ruth 2:13-23 (NIV)13 “May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord,” she said. “You have given me comfort and have spoken kindly to your servant-though I do not have the standing of one of your servant girls.” 14 At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar.” When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over. 15 As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, “Even if she gathers among the sheaves, don’t embarrass her. 16 Rather, pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.” 17 So Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Then she threshed the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah. 18 She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out and gave her what she had left over after she had eaten enough. 19 Her mother-in-law asked her, “Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!” Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working. “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz,” she said. 20 “The LORD bless him!” Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. “He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.” She added, “That man is our close relative; he is one of our kinsman-redeemers.” 21 Then Ruth the Moabitess said, “He even said to me, ‘Stay with my workers until they finish harvesting all my grain.’ ” 22 Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It will be good for you, my daughter, to go with his girls, because in someone else’s field you might be harmed.” 23 So Ruth stayed close to the servant girls of Boaz to glean until the barley and wheat harvests were finished. And she lived with her mother-in-law.

Message

As we have seen the interactions of Ruth and Boaz, we can see their godly character shine through. In this passage we continue to see Boaz and Ruth exhibit the character of God. First, Ruth is very thankful for the comfort and kindness she has received. This is a characteristic of a true believer. How often we deal with people who only think of what they do not have. Ruth is thankful for a job that is very hard work, on the low end of the pay scale, and even lower end of the social scale. Yet her attitude is one of gratefulness. What a refreshing and great example for us!Boaz also exhibits God’s character as he continues to help and protect Ruth. At the time of the meal Boaz invites Ruth to eat with him and the rest of the servants. First, note that Boaz is eating with his servants. As we have seen, Boaz is not the typical CEO! Next, he invites Ruth, the foreign girl who is gleaning his fields (a.k.a. ½ step away from begging…) to sit and have lunch. Such care and real comfort given to her. Just as God loves and cares for ALL of His creation, Boaz does the same. What a great example for us as we travel in the various circles of life: social, business, friends etc. We live in a hard and fast-paced world, and moments or acts of kindness and comfort are rare, and yet much enjoyed by those on the receiving end. Are we giving comfort and kindness when we have the opportunity? Do we respond in graciousness and thankfulness when God and others reward us?This week look for opportunities to show kindness and comfort. Be a person of comfort and graciousness.