Choose God’s Way

Verse of the day: Ruth 3:12-13, Now it is true that I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I. 13 Stay this night, and in the morning it shall be that if he will perform the duty of a close relative for you—good; let him do it. But if he does not want to perform the duty for you, then I will perform the duty for you, as the LORD lives! Lie down until morning.”

What do we do when our plans appear to take an unexpected turn? Do we panic? Do try to take a shortcut that will allow us to move forward in accordance to our desires, or do we trust God to guide us through the detour? Ruth was right on track to be the wife of a man who was willing to fulfill God’s law in respect to being her kinsman redeemer. However, Boaz, being a righteous man, recognizes that there is one who is of closer relation to Elimelech, Ruth’s dead husband. He could have very easily kept that to himself and married her. Instead, he chose the more honorable approach and told her to wait and see if the other relative would be willing to fulfill that role. Nonetheless, he would still take on that responsibility if the other refused. My question to us today is, “Are we willing to live out God’s will and plan for our life, God’s way?” In Ruth’s case, this was a small hiccup, but for some of us, depending on how much faith we have, a small hiccup can seem like a major disruption. The Apostle Paul had to serve God with much suffering. In Acts 9:16 Jesus said, “For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” The Apostle suffered trials, tribulations, and physical limitations (2 Corinthians 11:22-33; 12:7-10). There were no shortcuts for him because suffering was part of God’s plan for the Apostle’s service. When he desired to go to Asia to preach the Gospel, the Spirit prevented him, but later led him there in God’s time to Asia Minor (Acts 16:6). In 2 Corinthians 1:8-11, the Apostle recounts the sufferings he experienced in Asia. The initial disruption of the Apostle’s plans, by the Spirit, led him to Macedonia (Acts 16:9-10). There will be times when God will set us on a detour and bring us back around, but we must trust God’s leading and timing. Those moments when we get impatient because we feel like God is doing nothing, or plans seem to go sideways, we must be careful not to take matters into our own hands. God clearly told Sarah and Abraham that they would have a son from which a nation would be born. Yet, their impatience took them down an alternate route when Sarah suggested that Abraham take her handmaid Hagar and have a child with her (Genesis 15:4; 16:1-4; 18:10). Abraham and Sarah made a decision that yielded consequences that are still causing conflict today. The ultimate example of how we should live out God’s plan for our lives is Jesus. While in the Garden, Jesus suffered anguish knowing what lie ahead for Him. Matthew 26:36-39 tells us, “Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, ‘Sit here while I go and pray over there.’ 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, ‘My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.’ 39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.’” In verse 42 we read, “Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.’” Ultimately, the best choice we can make when trying to live out God’s plan for our lives is to seek to do God’s will, not our own. Life is filled with speed bumps, detours, interruptions, and challenges. Ruth was not disheartened by this temporary “stop sign” in God’s plan for her life. Boaz did not suggest any alternative plan in order to become the husband of such an honorable and virtuous woman. They both preferred to walk on a path that was an alternate path, as long as it was honest and in accordance to God’s Word. The best way to live out God’s plan and will for our lives is to live it out God’s way, and in accordance to His Word.

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).