“To believe in something, and not to live it, is dishonest.”
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
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. Ruth refused the easy way...she had a free release from her obligation but she chose the harder way and gave her life completely to see it through. Jesus is confronting the Pharisees because on the outside they look good and are respected yet they are unwilling to see their commitment through, they aren't really living what they say they believe in.
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 bold, loving, giving, honorable and will demand faith and trust.
Too many times in my life I avoided things because they were hard, because they demanded a fight, because in truth I doubted my ability and my talent and ultimately God's faithfulness. Too many times I allowed other people and the world to dictate my path instead of following God and trusting in his direction. Jesus never backed down when it mattered...when any opportunity came to display God's truth and his talent he let it shine. The Bible is full of characters who did the same.
David boldly walked into a place he had no business being and slayed Goliath in a way that defied all decorum and convention. Noah endured ridicule and ultimately saved his people and family. Abraham left the comforts of home and struck out into the unknown. Joseph persisted and followed his dream even though any onlooker would have declared his dream ridiculous. Moses obeyed God and walked into the greatest kingdom on earth, after having run away in shame 50 years prior, and demanded that Pharaoh let his people go. Daniel trusted God even in the face of hungry lions. Paul and the disciples endured prison, beatings and ultimately horrible death in order to see the Gospel preached.
Over and over and over again God asked his people to take the hard road, to stand in the face of adversity and to let his light shine. In those stories are examples of the strength to move forward, stand in the storm, persist against convention and obey in the midst of doubt. God gave me the gift of life, talent, wisdom, intelligence and a heart for his truth. To shrink back and play small is not humility, but rather disobedience.
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. ”
Ruth's dedication is sacrificial and life-giving. She stayed because of her oath and refused to take advantage of Naomi's release. Ruth refused the easy way...she had a free release from her obligation but she chose the harder way and gave her life completely to see it through. Jesus is confronting the Pharisees because on the outside they look good and are respected yet they are unwilling to see their commitment through, they aren't really living what they say they believe in.
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 bold, loving, giving, honorable and will demand faith and trust.
David boldly walked into a place he had no business being and slayed Goliath in a way that defied all decorum and convention. Noah endured ridicule and ultimately saved his people and family. Abraham left the comforts of home and struck out into the unknown. Joseph persisted and followed his dream even though any onlooker would have declared his dream ridiculous. Moses obeyed God and walked into the greatest kingdom on earth, after having run away in shame 50 years prior, and demanded that Pharaoh let his people go. Daniel trusted God even in the face of hungry lions. Paul and the disciples endured prison, beatings and ultimately horrible death in order to see the Gospel preached.
Over and over and over again God asked his people to take the hard road, to stand in the face of adversity and to let his light shine. In those stories are examples of the strength to move forward, stand in the storm, persist against convention and obey in the midst of doubt. God gave me the gift of life, talent, wisdom, intelligence and a heart for his truth. To shrink back and play small is not humility, but rather disobedience.
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. ”
LUKE 11:33
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