Gather
Take a few moments to light a candle, quiet yourself and open with prayer. You can use the same simple prayer each day, or pray how the Spirit leads you.
Holy Spirit come and work within me to strengthen and confirm my faith so that God’s grace might work in and through me.
The Word
Response
Ruth was a widow and a Moabite. Her only hope was to return to father’s household or return to Israel with her mother-in-law, Naomi. As childless widows, they had no one to take care of them; many in this situation turned to prostitution to prevent starvation.
Similar to the story of Tamar, the men in Naomi’s family had the right (responsibility?) to take Ruth in, so she could produce sons to take care of her. Boaz “redeemed” her, giving her a home and son—which would give her a new life.
Why does Matthew point us to Ruth as he open the Jesus story?
Thanksgiving
Take a few moments to pray for others.
Go Forth
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. [Amen.]
Colossians 3:15-17
Journey Through Scripture 