Their Choice Not Ours

Verse of the day: Ruth 1:14, Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

As Naomi returns to Bethlehem, she is left with her two daughters-in-law. Her husband and two sons are dead, and we see two different choices being made by Orpah and Ruth as it pertains to following Naomi back to Bethlehem. Orpah chose to go back to her people and her gods (v. 15). Yet, Ruth chose to remain with, and dwell with, Naomi, her people, and the one true God (v. 16-17). We have here a great example of what each of us will face in sharing Christ with others. Both these woman had a relationship with Naomi. Ruth may have seen something about Naomi’s life that attracted her to the God she served, while Orpah was not affected in the same way. There are two things we must keep in mind when sharing the Gospel message with people God gives us an opportunity to share Christ with. First, know that Jesus’ command was very clear in Mark 16:15, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” There was no exception in that command. The second is this, Jesus said in John 6:44, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” What was Jesus saying? We know there is none that seeks after God (Romans 3:11). When many disciples turned away from Jesus, He again stated, in John 6:65, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” This drawing toward Jesus is something that comes from God. He seeks us, He pulls us toward Jesus, and He gives us freewill to accept or reject. We have no part in being drawn to Jesus, because have no desire for God in and of ourselves. The Holy Spirit is the one who convicts us of sin (John 16:8), to turn us toward the need for salvation, but it is God the Father who draws us, or pulls us, toward the only One who can give us salvation, Jesus Christ. This is the part we do not know when we are sharing the Gospel message with others. When we live like a born again believer should live, God will use it to attract others by our attitude, words, and deeds, but we do not truly know who will respond in the way Ruth responded to Naomi, or who will respond as Orpah did with Naomi. We must simply do what we have been called to do, preach the Gospel to every creature, live holy and righteously for the glory of God, as His ambassadors, and trust Him to draw them in. Whatever decision they make as far as accepting or rejecting is theirs; we are not in a position to decide it for them or see to it that the outcome is positive. The results belong to God. If we are persecuted for it, then praise the Lord there is heavenly reward for being faithful in sharing Christ, and being persecuted for His sake (Matthew 5:10-12). Orpah and Ruth had the same opportunity to choose the God of Israel, but only Ruth chose to follow Naomi and make the God of Israel her God. Let us not be so preoccupied with whether people will accept Jesus or not, and just be faithful to open our mouths and live for Him without shame or fear. God will draw unto Himself whom He will, the choice being theirs as to whether they reject or accept. The bottom line is that some will and some will not. Whether the results are positive or negative, we get reward for being faithful and enduring persecution if necessary.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).