So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. And she took it up and went into the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied. And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.” And Ruth the Moabite said, “Besides, he said to me, ‘You shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’” And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted.” So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law.
Ruth 2:17-23 ESV Bible Gateway
It’s like a beam of light shining onto Ruth – the one who allowed her to gather grain from his field, the one that showed her kindness and also invited her to his table, was her close relative, her kinsman-redeemer! All of the sudden, it felt like Ruth’s life was lit up. The purpose of her hard work was no longer only to keep her and her mother-in-law fed, but also for Boaz. Ruth did not take any shortcut or advantage of her relationship with Boaz. Instead, she faithfully gleaned closely to the young women of Boaz, and worked in Boaz’s fields ONLY until the end of the barley and wheat harvest.
When Christ entered our life, His light also shines upon our life! We no longer live and work just to survive! Our life has a whole new purpose! That is to glorify Christ, our Redeemer, our God, alone! Let us also take no shortcuts in following Christ! Perhaps we may also learn from Ruth’s example – work diligently for the Lord, follow closely to His followers; go where He calls us to go, stay where He calls us to stay, do what He commands us to do. Whatever we do, do it for the glory of God!
Dear Lord, thank You for shining your light unto my life! Thank you for giving me a life not only to survive, but to thrive! You made me and you know Your divine purpose for me. Help me to walk closely with You!
Raisins & Apples Bible Devotional & more 