Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
April 05, 2023: SOAP #4871: Ruth 1-2; Psalm 53, 61; 2Corinthians 5

SCRIPTURE:  Ruth (NIV) 1: 15  “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” 16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”

OBSERVATION:  The more I read the book of Ruth, the more I am impressed with Naomi.  What a mother-in-law that would bring such a response from a daughter-in-law!  Surely Naomi had endeared herself to Ruth during the time Ruth was married to Naomi’s son.  Surely during the death of Naomi’s husband, and then the death of Ruth’s husband — surely during those days Ruth saw something special in Naomi! -something she wanted in her life.-something that was worth leaving her home to be with this woman who was discouraging her from accompanying her back to Bethlehem.  –surely Naomi had often talked about her homeland in a way that made Ruth also want to be able to call it home. 

APPLICATION: I want to live my life in such a manner that those around me want to have my God as their God.  May those who listen in to my conversations want to know more.  May they want to join me as I continue my journey to my Promised Land (Heaven.)

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, may my conversation and manner of living demonstrate to the world around me just how pleased I am to have you constantly with me. The more I know you, the more thankful I am to be your child.  Thank you for your forgiveness.  Like Jesus, I too want to be a useful son in your kingdom. It is my privilege to do your will.  It is my joy to represent you to those around me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon