RUTH 1-4
16But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” 18When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.(1:16-18)
LUKE 11:29-54
37When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. 38But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.
39Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.
42“Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.
43“Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.
44“Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.”
45One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”
46Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
JOURNAL
Ruth's dedication is sacrificial and life-giving. She stayed because of her oath and refused to take advantage of Naomi's release. Jesus is confronting the Pharisees because on the outside they look good and are respected yet their motivations are not out of love, their motivations are selfish.
God has given us a brain, a free will and an ability to choose our actions. How we respond in moments of choice is key to who we really honor and serve. If our actions are done out of love and obedience to God, then they will be giving and sacrificial. If not then they may have the appearance of being acceptable yet ultimately may be done out of a selfish and wicked motive.
Ruth's dedication is sacrificial and life-giving. She stayed because of her oath and refused to take advantage of Naomi's release. Jesus is confronting the Pharisees because on the outside they look good and are respected yet their motivations are not out of love, their motivations are selfish.
God has given us a brain, a free will and an ability to choose our actions. How we respond in moments of choice is key to who we really honor and serve. If our actions are done out of love and obedience to God, then they will be giving and sacrificial. If not then they may have the appearance of being acceptable yet ultimately may be done out of a selfish and wicked motive.
God has given us a brain, a free will and an ability to choose our actions. How we respond in moments of choice is key to who we really honor and serve. If our actions are done out of love and obedience to God, then they will be giving and sacrificial. If not then they may have the appearance of being acceptable yet ultimately may be done out of a selfish and wicked motive.
33“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. 34Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy,g your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy,h your body also is full of darkness. 35See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”
LUKE 11:33-36
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