Reflection
- (Rth 1:1 ESV) In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.
- (Rth 1:2 ESV) The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there.
- (Rth 1:3 ESV) But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons.
- (Rth 1:4 ESV) These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years,
- (Rth 1:5 ESV) and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.
Discussion
Do you recall a time when you struggled with events in your life so much that you questioned whether or not God cared – or even existed? I have. More than once. As we look at the nation of Israel throughout the Old Testament we see the waffling back and forth – over and over. They go from trusting the Lord and being on board with His plan to denying Him entirely and seeking anything but His will. Whehter we like to admit it or not, we are so much the same way. We have strong periods and weak periods – we have highs and lows. Everything in life ebbs and flows like that doesn’t it?
Read Romans 7:15-25
Connection
Can you relate to the struggle of Paul?
Do you ever find yourself stuck in the same mode of disobedience again and just wish you could stop?
What resources has God given us to help us through times or struggle?
2 Chronicles 7:14-15 mentions a humble prayer by the people of God. We know that in our age the people of God as His church. What can your church be praying about for your life this week? Are you seeking the opportunity to pray for others in the church as well?
Expansion
The Church Family
The church is both the universal and local people called by the Holy Spirit and redeemed by Jesus alone. Our citizenship is secure in heaven and our devotion on earth is the work of God. We are baptized into His body and led by men called of God to the roles of elders and deacons with the purposes of fellowship, worship, discipleship, evangelism, and ministry.
Jude 4, 8, 12, 13, 16, 1 Peter 2:9-12, Colossians 1:15-20, Ephesians 5:23-32, Acts 20:28, Colossians 3:15, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Ephesians 4:11-12, 1 Corinthians 12:28, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-2, Hebrews 13:17, 1 Timothy 3:8-13, Acts 2:42-49. Matthew 22:37-39, Matthew 28:19-20