Cling, Commit, Follow: Study of Ruth Part 1

Discover the profound bonds that can form across cultural and religious divides as we explore the timeless story of Ruth and Naomi. Join me, Jessi Morgan, as I share a personal journey of connection and faith that mirrors the devotion Ruth showed her mother-in-law, Naomi. Through my own cherished relationship with my mother-in-law, we shed light on Ruth's unwavering loyalty and commitment that transcends boundaries. Together, we'll reflect on the power of relationships and how acts of kindness and faith can leave an indelible mark on those we hold dear.

We'll also unravel the fascinating threads that connect Ruth's narrative to the larger biblical tapestry, highlighting its foreshadowing of Jesus Christ's relationship with his disciples. This episode invites you to appreciate the intricate links between various Bible stories and the life of Jesus, offering inspiration and a fresh perspective on the teachings of the New Testament. Allow yourself to be captivated by the richness of these stories and the enduring message of love and salvation that they carry. Join me as we embark on this enlightening mini-series and let God's love illuminate our shared reflections.

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Podcast Music by: prazkhanal
Song: Whip

Chapters

• 0:00 Cling, Commit, Follow
• 10:51 Foreshadowing Jesus in Bible Stories

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Hello, hello. You're listening to the Jesse Morgan Devotions for the Christian Heart Podcast, episode 26. This week's devotional is titled Cling, commit, follow. Study of Ruth Part 1. Let's go. Hi, I'm Jesse Morgan. I used to just share home decor and renovation tips on social media, but now I'm sharing something even closer to my heart my journey and love for Jesus Christ, my Savior. Welcome to the Jesse Morgan Devotions for the Christian Hawk Podcast.

Speaker 1: 0:29

This is a weekly devotional. I started back in May 2024, but the inspiration for it came much earlier. It was rooted in a faith journey that began when my daughter was born four months early in 2023. Through that challenging time, god worked in ways that truly amazed me. On this podcast, I share personal stories of faith, woven together with scripture to show just how incredible God's word can be in our everyday lives. My hope is that through these stories, you'll be encouraged, uplifted and reminded of God's love and presence, no matter what you're going through. So I invite you to spend less than 15 minutes with me each week as we reflect on these devotionals together. Let's all pray within Cling, commit, follow.

Speaker 1: 1:17

Study of Ruth, part one, episode 26. Key passages Ruth 1, 1 through 18. Episode 26. Key passages Ruth 1, 1 through 18. Hi everyone, this is Jessi Morgan. I am so excited to share that for the next four to six weeks we'll be doing a mini-series for the first time. God laid it on my heart to dive into the story of Ruth and share what I've learned. So let's get started on this journey together through the book of Ruth. Are you ready? I am. Today we're going to focus on the opening of Ruth, specifically Ruth 1, 1 through 18. There's so much richness in these verses and I'm thrilled to share it with you. So let's get started First with a random, random take that will make sense over time and kind of set the tone for this focus on Ruth part one.

Speaker 1: 2:08

Now, this might sound strange, but I really love my mother-in-law. I know that's not always the case for many people, but I'm grateful that I do. I remember our first meeting at a family picnic in New York. I was terrified. Only getting a few minutes to talk to her was terrifying as well, because you want to make a good impression. But you know what? My mother-in-law immediately set me at ease. She didn't drill me with questions or try to size me up. Instead, she just asked about me, my family and how I was doing, showing genuine care, and from that day on our relationship just grew. One of the sweetest moments was when she met my daughter. Watching the love she has for Sage truly shows how much she loves me. She's always been there for us, thinking of the bigger picture and what's best for the family. Been there for us thinking of the bigger picture and what's best for the family. For example, on our wedding day, when we were rushing to take photos, she suggested family pictures of both sides of the family. That came. I was ready to move on, but she gently encouraged us to take that moment with our families. Today those photos are up in our home and they're some of the last pictures we have with certain family members who have since passed. I'm so grateful she thought of that moment when I wasn't thinking about it myself. So, yes, I do adore my mother-in-law. We've clicked in a way that I didn't expect, and that's why I relate to the connection between Ruth and her mother-in-law, naomi.

Speaker 1: 3:50

Ruth didn't just have a bond with Naomi. Her mother-in-law, ruth, clung to her, and that's exactly where I want to start in our study of Ruth. In chapter one of Ruth, the story begins by setting the scene with honestly sadness. Ruth was married to one of Naomi's sons, while Orpah, another Moabite woman, married the other son. But tragedy struck when both sons and Naomi's husband passed away. With no other family to rely on, naomi decided to return to Bethlehem. Ruth and Orpah were Moabite women who married into an Israelite family, which itself was not ideal usually. According to scripture In Deuteronomy 23, three through four, it even says no Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, not even in the 10th generation, god had forbidden Moabites from entering the community of Israel because of their actions against the Israelites when they were vulnerable in the wilderness after the exodus from Egypt which was led by Moses years and years before.

Speaker 1: 5:06

Yet despite those cultural and religious divides, naomi had an influence over Ruth so profound that Ruth declared her loyalty to her mother-in-law and her God with these unforgettable words in Ruth 1, 16 through 17, which says forgettable words in Ruth 1, 16 through 17,. Which says Don't urge me to leave you or 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. Where you die, I will die and there I will be buried. What a powerful statement. Ruth was willing to leave behind everything she knew her family, her people, her gods to stay with Naomi and follow her God, our Heavenly Father.

Speaker 1: 5:58

This loyalty speaks to the deep impact Naomi must have had on Ruth, and it reminds us of the power of our relationships and our faith. Just as I think back to my relationship with my mother-in-law, I see how meaningful it is when you connect with someone at a heart level, as I call it. It doesn't have to be an in-law relationship, it could be a friendship relationship, even a mentorship, or even an acquaintance. When we show kindness, compassion and understanding, we allow God's love to flow through us, opening doors for those around us to see Christ in us. Naomi's life had left an imprint on Ruth, clearly just as our lives can leave an imprint on others, and through that relationship, ruth came to know and trust in the God of Israel, our Heavenly Father, and this leads to an amazing story that sets the path for the good news later on.

Speaker 1: 7:02

For those that know the story of Ruth, you know exactly what I'm talking about. As we continue this study, remember how significant our actions and words are in leading others to faith. We might not know how God is working through our relationships, but he can use even the smallest moments of your compassion and understanding to make a difference in someone's life. So, as we end this first segment of our series in Ruth, I ask you today have you influenced someone to cling to you so you can share your faith, or have you done the opposite? Just think about it. I think I'm guilty of both, honestly. But as of today, I want people to listen to me or see me, so then I can have them cling to God's word. That should be our focus today as believers.

Speaker 1: 7:52

If you aren't a believer and want to cling or get to know the Lord, you are in the right place. Just say a quick prayer to yourself saying Lord, I want to know you, I want Jesus Christ to come into my heart and save me from my sins. I believe that Lord, amen. If you just said that prayer, amen and welcome to being a believer of Christ, please feel free to reach out. If you need more guidance, I can share resources and just in such to start you on your forever journey with Christ and really, you know, encourage you to find a Bible-based church. I am so excited to continue this journey with you all.

Speaker 1: 8:32

In the book of Ruth, each chapter is filled with beautiful lessons and I can't wait to explore them together in the coming weeks. For now, let's pray. Heavenly Father, I thank you for this day. I bless your holy name. Thank you so much for this podcast. Thank you so much for all these listeners, lord. Lord, I pray that all of us really understand that if we cultivate amazing relationships, people could possibly cling to us, so that we can then create that path that they could cling to you, lord, and receive salvation and appreciate what Jesus Christ did for them by dying on the cross and forgiving them of their sins. Father, we love you. We thank you so much for the study of Ruth. We are learning to get people to cling to you through our actions. I love you, lord. We love you, lord. We praise you in Jesus' name, amen. Well, that wraps up this week's episode. I hope these devotions help you draw closer to God each day. If this episode encouraged you, please share it with someone who might need the same message and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss a weekly episode. For more information or to reach out, check the show notes or visit jessimorganhomecom or find me on Instagram at jessimorganlife. Remember, god's timing is always perfect. Keep trusting him Until next time. This is Jessi Morgan praying off.

Speaker 1: 9:58

You know it's funny, I'm going through this first, you know chapter, this first segment of Ruth, study of Ruth. It really hit me, honestly, while I was recording tonight. I feel like Ruth and Naomi. Naomi really represents a type of Jesus Christ in my opinion, because Ruth represents that follower, that believer, someone who's longing for something more, and they see Jesus Christ and they cling to it, they want that, they want that salvation. I mean, look what Ruth said to her Wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you stay, I will go. Wherever you stay, I will stay. Wherever you die, I will die too and be buried there too. And that is exactly what the first disciples they literally picked up where they were as fishermen and they just followed Jesus.

Speaker 1: 10:51

And that's kind of like what I feel, like that relationship of Naomi and Ruth are kind of foreshadowing to what, obviously, when we get to the New Testament and Jesus Christ and his relationship with his disciples, and you know, obviously, him being the way, the truth and the light, and you know just the start of salvation and Christ and Jesus Christ being that savior, so it just really just hit me. You know what? What a blessing that so many Bible stories just intertwine and they still come out with the same result of glorifying the Lord and showcasing and foreshadowing Jesus Christ. So just you know, any story that you read, try to see how that intertwines and touches Jesus. You know we have the obvious ones, but then there's some that really aren't and that just really hit it for me. So I'm just so excited to do Ruth, and I hope you guys are too. Thank you for the listeners, god bless.