God’s Heart

https://odb.org/MY/2022/12/08/fast-food-encouragement

I like the phrase “God’s heart is revealed in the stories in Scriptures,” very much. We know these stories we read are of real people living real lives facing real issues in life, and when we see the goodness of God manifested in their lives, we know God’s heart is for His people. These are not make-believe works of fiction but rather documentary-like depictions of past events and occurrences written in the literary style of that time.

Thus, as we read the story of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz; we can see how the widows were provided their subsistence by the generosity of a man, who turned out to be their close relative and guardian-redeemer. The source of their good experience at a time when women depended on men for their livelihood was a Mosaic law that required landowners to leave something behind in their fields for the widows, the fatherless and the poor to glean so that they will not go hungry. It is, in essence, in return for the LORD giving them the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey. In them living in the abundant blessings of God (compared to their time as slaves in Egypt), they need to make sure no one in their community is left behind. The law itself is the source of God’s goodness. But the story of Ruth is the reality of God’s goodness and gracious heart materialising right in front of our eyes. The law and the grace of God coming to life in the pages of Scripture. We can analyse and preach sermons on why God was kind to Naomi and Ruth, but the reality is that He was and it is a testament that we as His adopted children in Christ can and will experience the same goodness and grace as His heart is for us.

I think the message today is that while God’s heart is for us and we may be able to live in the shadow of His wings and partake of His goodness and grace, we must never take God for granted. Be thankful and grateful to God. Be appreciative and on our part, be gracious and kind to others like Boaz did to Ruth. Remember this principle of repricocity was taught by Jesus Himself in the Parable of the Ungrateful Servant (see Matthew 18:21-35). As much as we experience the goodness of God, be that goodness of God to others around us!