One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for. Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours.” (Ruth 3:1-2)
By chapter 3 of the Ruth story, the faith of Ruth is such an example that it rekindles Naomi’s faith in the kindness of God. Think about Ruth’s impact on Naomi. We often underestimate our impact on others. As Naomi sees God’s kindness at work in her life through Ruth and Boaz, she puts aside her identity as “bitterness” and replaces it with Ruth’s trust in God’s kindness. As a result we see God’s kindness is reviving Naomi’s kindness! She looks away from being bitter to how she can love Ruth. This change can take time. It took the whole harvest season in Naomi’s case! But consider this: your kindness, as an expression of your trust in God, will be impacting others. You’ll be influencing others in ways you might not realise right now, or for a long time to come! We often underestimate our impact on others.
Head: Do you underestimate your impact on others?
Heart: Is my heart influencing others with bitterness or God’s kindness?
Hands: I will put aside all bitterness as I trust in God’s goodness and kindness. Today I will aim to be a channel of God’s kindness to others.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to be aware of how I can influence others with my bitterness or with your kindness. Please enable my heart to not be centred on bitterness, but your great kindness as shown in Jesus. I ask that you would enable me today to put aside all my bitterness and be a channel of your kindness to others. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
A song to listen to: Fall Before Him
Phil Strong