Ruth the Moabite made a beautiful vow of commitment to her mother-in-law, Naomi. Ruth promised to walk alongside her, to change nationalities, to worship God, and to do this for the rest of her life. How did she come to make such a deep commitment? Could Ruth have seen and experienced the love of God through Naomi? She stepped out in faith to claim the promise of God’s commitment.
Ruth’s commitment to Naomi gives us a picture of God’s commitment to us. In essence, God says to each of us, “I will go where you go. Where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people.” God has sworn that nothing in heaven and on earth will ever separate us.
In this Advent season we can celebrate how God came to us in the person of Jesus Christ. At tremendous personal cost, the Son of God became one of us, a human being. Jesus went where we go, he lived as we live, and he even took on our death so that we would never need to be separated again from God’s love or God’s presence.
Listen to Jesus’ words of commitment to us: “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). May these words give you comfort and peace as you go through times of crisis. May they give you courage as you face the future.
Lord Jesus, thank you for the promise you have made to us to be our God. Help us to be your people. In your name, Amen.
About the author — Thea Leunk
Thea Nyhoff Leunk has been a high school English teacher, a director of Christian education, a pastor of discipleship, and a regional coach for the Christian Reformed Church in North America. She is currently the senior pastor at Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Thea has also written courses for teens and young adults on world religions, Christian faith traditions, and science and the Bible. She and her husband have three adult children.
Start your day with quick daily devotions.
See God's love, power, presence, and purpose in your life every day!