As we enter a new 4-part series on the book of Ruth, we must know that the gospel is powerful and yet so very simple to appropriate. We must not make God’s purpose in practically applying the word complicated. What does it mean to return to worship: to love the Lord God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, to offer your whole self, and to place him first in your life (Deut. 6:4). Because worship comes from the word worth-ship, God is worthy of our exaltation and adoration for his steadfast faithfulness because he deserves it all. This is not easy but fully possible in Christ. In essence, it is allowing your heart to return home and stay rooted in Christ through all manner of life. Our heart is Christ’s home.

There are many days where I encounter detachment, wandering in the wilderness, and cannot seem to abandon myself in worship. But it is these moments of chaos that I choose fidelity to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Sometimes my heart changes immediately, but most of the time, it happens when I least expect it, and in the ordinary heat of the day, I return to worship my Beloved. We do not need to understand the inner workings of the Lord to follow where he leads us. All things within our lives are always for the good of his glory. As we willingly return to worship Jesus, the Holy Spirit faithfully detaches us from the wanton longings of the world that will never amount to anything. As the song so beautifully declares, “Where he leads, I will follow, I will go with him all the way.” Will you? We can fall at Jesus’ feet and willingly worship him step by step as we wait for him to use our weakness for his strength (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). We enter the scene of an unlikely woman named Ruth, whom God uses to grow our character in him. God can and will use any willing heart regardless of their background because this is his kingdom business. Taking hearts and leading them by faith and in faith, looking beyond the horizon for a hope in him that is completely invisible. This is amazing! Thank you, Father for your desire to pursue and woo us to your Beloved Son, Jesus. What are you waiting for?

During the days of judges, all of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They constantly pursued their wanton longings instead of willingly returning to worship the Lord. Imagine that? One family from Bethlehem in Judah worshiped the Lord with all their heart. During a severe famine in the land, they went down to the country of Moab and settled there for ten years until the famine was over. Just as God declared to the Israelites in captivity to take wives and husbands and feed off the good and rich land. So did this faithful family. Eventually, the husband and the two sons died, and the wife and mother, Naomi, and the two daughter-in laws were left. God spoke to Naomi to return home to worship, and all would be well. So, Naomi and Ruth returned home to Bethlehem.

Ruth did not know God, only through Naomi’s faithful worship to her Lord. Ruth felt a strong urgency out of deep love to accompany Naomi to return to Bethlehem and worship God. She left everything she knew behind in Moab, her family and familiar surroundings of idolatry to faithfully follow Naomi. We do not know the details but can only imagine how Ruth witnessed for ten years Naomi’s deep love to worship God alone. Ruth felt compassion for her. Naomi was alone and widowed and knew as she returned to worship God, he would faithfully restore her sorrowful life. How many of us would leave everything dear to our hearts and return to live with our mother-in-law’s? I imagine, not too many! God used the willing heart of a foreigner, Ruth, and the deep love for Naomi to draw her to himself. That is always God’s purpose, but we must leave our past behind. That is that. Praise his holy name! Listen to Ruth’s heart of worship, “Where you go, I will go, where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God shall be my God” (Ruth 1:16). God accepts all people from every nation who choose to return home to worship him with all their heart (Acts 10:35).

We use the word return because all of creation is born of God, created in his image and likeness for his kingdom purpose (Genesis 1:26-27). Every day, we can go astray and fall prey to the yearnings of the world without ever recognizing it. God in Christ is wooing and calling us by name to return home with our whole heart to worship his blessed and holy name. The good news is that the only requirement for this to take place in our heart is to responsibly move upon God’s sufficient grace planted within us through Christ’s work. Hallelujah! We do not need to know how or why it takes us so long, but simply by faith begin the first step toward worshiping the Lord with our inherent being formed in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Just as we witness Ruth’s willingness to return with Naomi and leave everything behind to worship the Lord anew; It is only in our willingness to leave the past behind that holds us captive so that we might worship the one true and living Christ who reigns forevermore!

Reflection:

1) What is keeping your heart from returning to worship the Lord?

2) How can you take that first step?

Dear Father,

Thank you for your sufficient grace in Christ. Help us to leave our old life behind so that we might fully worship you with our whole heart. We praise you Holy Spirit for your continual work in our hearts. Blessed be your name!

In Jesus name,

Amen!

Blessings,

Dr. Caroline