Love is a tough decision to make

This time of the year brings a lot of reflection on love, romance and relationships. I was reminded again today that LOVE is a definite choice that we make. Sure, it can also be prompted by initial feelings or something along those lines, but we still need to choose to Love on a daily basis. This goes for all our relationships! 

Seth Adam Smith wrote: "Our society places a lot of emphasis on feelings. We are taught that we should always follow our feelings and do whatever makes us happy. But feelings are very fickle and fleeting. Real love, on the other hand, is like the north star in the storms of life; it is constant, sure, and true. Whenever we're lost and confused we can find strength in the love that we have chosen."

Almost every act of genuine love in the Scriptures involves someone making a sacrificial decision and then following through with committed dedication:

I think of Ruth choosing to go back with Naomi. 

Joseph's love for his family, even after they left him for dead. 

Jesus as he begins his lonely journey towards the cross.

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." - John 15:13

Who do we need to love today?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Who do you belong to?

^"Boaz asked the overseer of his harvesters, “Who does that young woman belong to?” - Ruth 2:5

It was a sign of the times that a woman was always under the authority of her male family members, which is why Boaz asks Ruth this question in v.5 - Who do you belong to?
 
It was assumed that a woman belonged to her husband, father, uncle, brother etc. Thankfully, we have moved away from this kind of language nowadays, but I want to pick up on the spiritual connotation of this question: "Who do you belong to?"


I don't need to be attached to any human relative to answer this question, because if I have chosen to follow Jesus Christ, then I can say: "I belong to Christ!" Jesus has brought me with a price and I am under his covering.

Mark 9:41 -  "Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward."

Question:  "Who do I belong to?"

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Ruth - true faithfulness

If ever there was an example of true FAITHFULNESS then it must be Ruth. Given the opportunity to leave her troubled life and start over, she pledges to go with her grieving mother-in-law to Bethlehem. These are the loyal words spoken to Naomi when Ruth commited to be with her.

"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 even death separates you and me.” - Ruth 1:16-17

"... not even death itself is going to come between us!” - The Message

Faithfulness is a rare trait. If you know someone who has been very committed and faithful to you, then you have found a rare gem. Appreciate their faithfulness and honour them today. 

Thought: Who/what is God asking you to be faithful to? May Ruth's example give you inspiration today.

Living in Grace
D3LM3