“Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.”

(Ruth 4: 5)

“So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her, And the LORD enable her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.

Then the women said to Naomi, ‘Blessed is the LORD who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel.

May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.’”

(Ruth 4: 13-15)

Today, let us wonder:  What is better than God?

Yes, let us really ask ourselves–Is the loss found in the death of a husband—OR—Is the turmoil found within the world—OR—Is our health (or the lack thereof) BETTER THAN THE SALVATION OF OUR LORD?!!!

Ruth was from a foreign country.

There was a good chance that she did not even speak the same language as the people where she was relocating with her mother-in-law.

Ruth was alone; her husband (Naomi’s son, Ruth’s husband) was dead.

Ruth was young and beautiful.

Ruth went with Naomi to a foreign country, to a place unfamiliar to her, yet her faith in God’s provision sustained her.

Ruth went into the field to glean wheat, to provide for her mother-in-law.

Naomi knew the strength of Ruth.

Ruth knew the strength of the LORD.

God is faithful.

GOD IS FAITHFUL!

GOD IS FAITHFUL!!

GOD—IS—FAITHFUL!!!

• A man saw this young woman gleaning the wheat in his field.
• A man saw this young woman and he felt compassion.
• A man saw this young woman and knew in his heart that he must redeem her for himself.
• A man saw this young woman and inquired about her mother-in-law Naomi, a kinsman.
• A man saw this young woman and knew he must redeem her, despite the cost.
• A man saw this young woman and recognized the truth of his actions:  redeem Ruth and raise up the name of her deceased husband, Naomi’s son.
• A man saw this young woman and reacted, following the LORD’S guidance.
• A man saw this young woman and took her to be his wife.
• A man saw this young woman and went into her; the LORD caused them to conceive.
• A man saw this young woman and through God’s provision, a son, OBED, the father of JESSE, the father of DAVID, the ancestor of JOSEPH, the father of JESUS—was born.

JESUS!

A Redeemer.

A Sustainer.

A Restorer of Life.

JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD!

WHAT IS BETTER THAN FOLLOWING GOD?

NOTHING!

NOTHING—IS—BETTER—THAN FOLLOWING GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Challenges come; God alone sees the whole picture; we see the smallness of our own situation.

Challenges come; God alone sees the ripple effect of our decisions, of our choices.

Challenges come; God alone provides us courage.

God alone provides us courage to fight for HIM so others may see.

God alone provides us courage to fight against Satan, for the salvation of others.

We cannot save a nation, But GOD Can!

We cannot redeem a world, But GOD Can!

We can take risks, With GOD’S Guidance!

We can be bold, Through GOD’S Power!

We can follow the leading of GOD’S Holy Spirit!

We can TRUST GOD!

We can witness of the way God changed us!

We can follow!

We can!!!

What is Better than following God?

WHAT IS BETTER THAN FOLLOWING GOD?

NOTHING!

NOTHING—IS—BETTER—THAN FOLLOWING GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Though us, though our obedience to God—HE SAVES LIVES!!!

My name is not Ruth; maybe your name is not Ruth.

My husband is alive; maybe your husband is alive, too.

My life seems sane, calm; maybe your life, too, seems calm.

My faith is strong; maybe your faith, too, is also strong.

What is Better Than Following God?

NOTHING!!!

NOTHING IS BETTER THAN FOLLOWING GOD!!!

• The godly response in following God is so important.
• The godly response in following God, despite the challenges of the day, is so important.
• The godly response shows the world in Whom we trust.
• Our godly response (just as Ruth’s & just as Naomi’s) creates change.

May we allow the LORD to radiate through us.

May we allow others to see the LORD reigning through our lives.

May we allow others to see JESUS through us.

May we.

We will be dazzled by the way God moves through our lives.

May we be open to the dazzle.

What is Better Than Following God—in every life situation.

NOTHING IS BETTER THAN FOLLOWING GOD!!!

• Let us never stop praying!
• Let us never stop praying for the lost!
• Let us never stop praying that the lost may be found!
• Let us never stop!!!

Let us be consistent, just as Jesus, our Savior speaks of the widow, who was persistent in doing God’s will.

Do not believe me but see the Word of our Lord as written in His Scripture, The Holy Word of God.

“Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying,

“In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man.

There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, “Give me legal protection from my opponent.

For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because of this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’

And the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unrighteous judge said;  now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?

I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly.

However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”

(Luke 18: 1-8)

What is Better Than Following God?

NOTHING!

NOTHING IS BETTER THAN FOLLOWING GOD!!!