Withholding Blessings

 ¹⁰Then she ^(D)fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him, "Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?"
 ¹¹Boaz replied to her, "All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know.
 ¹²"^(E)May the LORD reward your work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel,^(F)under whose wings you have come to seek refuge."



Ruth 2:10-12


There must have been so much suffering in Naomi's family.  From her husband to her 2 sons, all were lost.  She didn't even want to be called Naomi and wanted to be called Mara, since the Lord has left her.  There must've been so much dispair in their lives.  


Ruth chose to stay with her mother-in-law even though her obligations ended with the death of her husband.  She was faithful.  She must've cried out to God so many times during her trials yet she remained faithful.  And acknowledgement came from a stranger, in a place where she didn't expect it.  It was the owner of the field, Boaz, that was touched to show compassion.  He allowed her to glean the fields and even cared for her safety by commanding the others not to harm her.  Boaz had it in his heart to bless her, a foreigner, and not withhold God's encouragement and love.  


This is a message I need to listen to really carefully.  I withhold God's blessing from so many because I'm selfish.  And it's in a passive way too.  I want to share a word or even a deed with someone but I choose not to because I don't want to bother them.  Or I don't want to inconvenience someone.  Or worse yet, I think I'm not the one to deliver the message... what?  We're commanded to spread the Word of Jesus Christ why am I resisting?  Even if I'm not doing it right, wouldn't God guide my tongue correctly?  Wouldn't He, the King of all creation, prevent me from making any mistakes?  Sure, I'll make mistakes but it all can and will be used by Him but nothing, absolutely nothing will happen unless I bring it to the table.  I need to listen and obey the promptings of God's Spirit... I have to.


Father God, as I draw closer and closer to You every day I can hear the complaining of my flesh.  I know where my problems are and it's sickening that I'm doing nothing about it.  Why be a follower of The Way if I can't even right my own life?  Please Lord, I pray that I can change my ways and love Yours.  Help me put on the new self... "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." (2 Cor 5:17).  Love you my Counselor.  Amen!