It feels like time is picking up speed as we are already mid-way through November. What?! Can someone explain to me whether this only happens as you “mature” or if it’s a universal phenomenon? This is not the case in March and April as we wait patiently for spring days, but August goes quickly and oops September is here and now where did October go and here we are nearly to Thanksgiving. Are you taking the time to count blessings? Am I?
Ruth 2
How refreshing it was to pause and read through Ruth 2. I read it several times and as you can imagine what stood out to me was the word bless! It reminded me very much of my grandmother’s favorite verse, Numbers 6:24-26.
Boaz and his harvesters greeted one another with this exchange of blessings from the Lord.
Boaz then went to greet the stranger in his field (Ruth) with kind advice as to how she could continue to provide food for her family and a blessing.
Naomi responded to Ruth’s harvest with a blessing in general and then a blessing that was specificly meant for Boaz after she gathered the facts.
Five blessings in 23 verses says something to me. Let’s explore.
Lessons
First – Imagine what a stranger would experience and learn from walking into this kind of work environment.
Second – Imagine what the experience is for the owner and the workers.
Third – Imagine how God views this routine exchange in a field of barley or wheat.
Fourth – Imagine what it takes for Naomi to come from a place of complete brokenness to offer repeated blessings.
challenge
- What do others see and learn about your relationship with God in your work environment? Is it obvious?
- Do you ask for God’s blessings for your co-workers (etc. etc.) and your boss? Are you a joy to be around? Are you blessing others with your work?
- Are you asking God’s blessings on the workplace (the neighborhood, the school, etc.)? Are you blessing God in your workplace?
- Where do you see God’s healing and growth in your life? Are you looking? Are you grateful?
God and only God can change your life. But you can be intentional about looking to bless Him (with your obedience) and bless others with God’s love. You can be intentional about how your speech influences “strangers” that may be strangers only to God. Your words matter.
Be the one who takes a stranger like Ruth from a foreign place and shows her what God’s family looks like and what God is like.
Be the one in your workplace that reminds everyone what God’s family looks like and what God is like.