On Monday we began a week long series of devotionals honoring women as Mother’s Day quickly approaches this Sunday.
Throughout the Word of God women played a significant role in society despite what many believe was a culture of suppression.
The influences women had on their spouses and their families, the decisions they made while trying to remain obedient to God, and the relationships they had with others had, and still have, significant impacts on the way our world is today.
From Eve to Sarah, to women like Rahab and Ruth, Naomi and Esther, to Mary the mother of Jesus. We can celebrate the lives of the women of faith, whether mothers or not, as we thank God for the role women play in our lives.
Today, we celebrate a woman of Godly character.
Her name is Ruth and she has an entire book of the Bible named after her.
Ruth was a Moabite woman who became widowed. Despite returning to her native family, Ruth declares that she will not leave her mother-in-law, Naomi.
She moves with Naomi to Bethlehem and later marries a man named Boaz, a distant relative of Naomi’s late husband.
The story of Ruth reveals her true devotion and her abiding loyalty.
Ruth declared to Naomi:
“Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die – there will I be buried.” (Ruth 1:16-17).
Talk about devotion. Ruth committed herself to living with her mother-in-law in a city and culture that was new to her.
Ruth respected and obeyed her mother-in-law and showed Godly character within her society and culture.
Blindly, she made a commitment to be true to Naomi. She didn’t know how things would turn out for her, but God knew.
May God bless women who display selfless compassion, like Ruth.