The Devotional

Psalm 32:9

Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come to you.

It is generally common to mankind to reflect the image of a horse or mule when confronted by His Creator. Like a wild person we race through life, trampling people we know and love. Our understanding is centered on self-worth rather than the worthiness of others. The bit and the bridle of life are the directionals to get us back on course. What course is that you ask? Proverbs 3:1-8

Ruth

Ruth 2:13 There is this tendency to look back at the stories in the Old Testament and think, “Well if the stories are real then the people must be uneducated and out of touch with reality” What could be further from the truth? Believing that these events never happened and that the Bible is nothing more than “folk lure”, that would be much worse! Ruth grew up in a land that entertained idolatry. She was familiar with the sinful character of both male and female relationships and she knew how to play all the angles that people play today.

Boaz is an educated man, a leader in his community. He is responsible for large portions of real estate, a counselor in matters pertaining to purpose of life. He is also a godly man. People like Boaz will always reach out to people like Ruth and offer grace and encouragement. His offer to her in earlier verses are designed to neutralize the worldly approach that may be in the mind of Ruth. She perceives that his intention is honorable and she submits to his authority, but reminds him that she is not like anyone else he may have met till now.

I remember when Jesus saved me and I said something like this to the LORD. “I am not like the others LORD, I am more like a broken television, I am turned on to You, but I have no picture, no sound and all of my parts are burnt out and black. Maybe You could replace those parts with new ones, maybe You could make me a picture of your grace and give me words to say”. I did not know it then, but His grace was already at work and His encouragement was His Hand on my shoulder leading me along a new path. Psalm 31:1-5