December 22, 2023 - Ruth 2:8-13

God’s faithful provisions for Ruth and Naomi continue with Boaz not only allowing Ruth to glean in his fields but he also instructed his workers to keep an eye on Ruth and themselves not to touch her.  Water was given to Ruth during her hours of toil; in short, all that was Boaz’s was Ruth’s!  And all was hers though she was a foreigner and had no real claim on that which was given to her.  She exclaimed, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” (2:10) 

All this reminds me of an observation I heard Donald Carson make at a large conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil several years ago.  He noted that we often think very wrongly about our salvation and how God loves us.  We have a good day (in the Word, good deeds, time in prayer, even sharing the gospel), and we think, “Oh, in such good standing with God I must be.”  On another day, the story is quite different.  We spend no time in the Word or in prayer, we are self-centered and, certainly, we have not shared the good news.  And we conclude, “Based on my performance, today, God must love me less.”  Here’s the thing, though, as Carson pointed out:  God’s love of his children is constant.  It does not depend upon us.  We have his love not because of what we do or do not do but because of Christ.  Indeed, with Ruth, we exclaim to our God, “Why have I found favor in your eyes?”  And we answer, “I have found favor in your eyes, my Lord, for you have comforted me” (2:13).  Only in and because of Christ!

In Christ alone, my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand.   -- Keith Getty and Stuart Townend (2001)