PowerPoint - June 30, 2008

June 30, 2008

But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”

--Ruth 1:16

If you ever want to see the picture of true commitment, read the book of Ruth. 

Ruth’s commitment to her family and God changed the course of her life. And the scene when Ruth made her commitment to God is one of the great confessions of faith in the Bible and all of history.

There on the road to Bethlehem, Ruth accepted God’s grace. He had brought her to the road to Bethlehem… and she was persuaded in her faith, even though her own mother-in-law told her to “turn back.”  

Now, Orpah, Ruth’s sister-in-law, came to the crossroads with her and cried and wept and was full of emotion. But she turned on her heel, and she went back into Moab and died without God. 

Ruth came to that same crossroads at Bethlehem, and she clung to her commitment. And as a result, her entire life was changed forever. 

You know, that’s what commitment to Christ really is. It’s not fence-straddling. It’s cross-bearing! Jesus said, “It’s not always going to be easy. If you’re going to follow Me, take up your cross… don’t take the easy way… take up your cross and follow after Me.” 

I challenge you to make your commitment to God total and final! Get rid of the escape clauses, the fine print, and the footnotes on the contract of your commitment to Him.

WRITE OUT A CONFESSION OF YOUR COMMITMENT TO GOD TODAY AND KEEP IT IN YOUR BIBLE AS A DAILY REMINDER.