What qualities of Ruth are highlighted in Ruth 2:6 for believers to emulate? Setting the Scene Boaz has just noticed a young woman gleaning in his field. He asks his foreman who she is, and the foreman replies: Key Verse (Ruth 2:6) “The foreman replied, ‘She is the Moabitess who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab.’” Qualities to Emulate • Loyalty that endures – Ruth “returned with Naomi,” refusing to abandon her mother-in-law (Ruth 1:16-17). – Scripture celebrates steadfast friendship: “A friend loves at all times” (Proverbs 17:17). – Believers are called to stick by family, fellow believers, and the vulnerable even when it costs (John 13:34-35). • Courage to leave comfort for God’s people – As a Moabite, Ruth left her homeland, culture, and security for a future she could not see (cf. Hebrews 11:8-9 on Abraham’s similar faith). – True discipleship often means stepping into the unknown for the sake of obedience (Luke 14:26-27). • Humble identification with God’s covenant community – The foreman simply calls her “the Moabitess,” yet Ruth willingly bears that outsider label while seeking refuge under Israel’s God (Ruth 2:12). – Humility accepts any status if it means belonging to God’s people (Philippians 2:3-4). • Repentant “return” to the true God – “Returned” hints not only at geography but at Ruth’s wholehearted turn to Yahweh (Ruth 1:16). – Repentance is a decisive break with the old life (1 Thessalonians 1:9) and a public association with God’s family. Living It Out Today – Stand by those God has placed in your life, especially when they face loss or hardship. – Step out in faith when the Lord calls, even if the path feels foreign or risky. – Embrace a posture of humility, gladly serving within the body of Christ regardless of how others label you. – Make a clear, ongoing break with past allegiances, demonstrating by action and word that you have “returned” to the living God. |
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