Title: God's Kindness Revealed / Topic: Godly Character

Today’s Reading: Ruth 1; Ruth 2; Psalm 53

Scripture: Ruth 2:10-12
10 At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She exclaimed, "Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?"
11 Boaz replied, "I've been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. 12 May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge."

Observation: This is a touching exchange between Ruth and Boaz. The respect that each expresses for the other is wonderful. Boaz was an honorable and kind man and though Ruth was an alien to Israel, he treats her with dignity and gentleness. And I love what he says in verse 12: "May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." It is the Lord that we come to for refuge, but it is often good people that the Lord uses to bring us the blessings of the trust we put in God.

Application: I want to be a person whom the Lord uses to bless others. I want to be an extension of God and His blessing as Boaz was to Ruth. She learned about the goodness of God by seeing the goodness of Boaz. He put flesh and blood to the goodness of the invisible God. That's what I want my life to be all about.

Prayer: Lord, You are so good. I want to reflect Your goodness to others and to live boldly proclaiming Your name, Your will, and Your ways to anyone who is paying attention. Give me boldness and effectiveness in this pursuit, Lord.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.