LIVING WATER CAC DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
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Tuesday, March 30, 2021
LITTLE MORE PATIENCE (1)
Read: Ruth 1:6
MEMORISE:
Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. (Ruth 1:6)
EXPOSITION
Obviously, there was a serious situation on hand on hand in Bethlehem (the name means ‘House of Bread’)—famine. God hasn’t assured us that we would be anywhere here on earth without challenges, even in the house of bread (Psa.34:19; Jn.16:33; 1 Pet.5:10). Not knowing, or ignoring this might result in misfiring.
Elimelech took his family out if Bethlehem without asking God for directive. Compare Abram (Gen.12:10-20) and Isaac’s experiences (Gen.26:1ff) with this. Embarking on any journey or venture without God’s consent and leading is obviously suicidal. Elimelech unfortunately lost his life and those of his two sons, and plunged those women, Naomi, Ruth and Orpah into the unexpected pains of early childless widowhood (vv.3-5)
Most unfortunate is that after barely a decade that they had left the ‘house of bread’, they got news that God had visited Bethlehem again and restored their bread that was apparently and temporarily taken away by the famine allowed by God (cf.Psa.115:3; Amos 3:6). How do you think Naomi would have felt—dowcast, regretful? Naomi most likely exclaimed, “Why didn’t we just wait a little more in Bethlehem? We would have avoided these disaster and pains.”
Impatience doesn’t pay. He who moves when and where God isn’t leading eventually jumps into fire or ends up in the pit of the wild animals of this world. Don’t join the bandwagon. Be patients even after you have done the will of God (Heb.10:36).
PRAYER POINTS
1. Ask God for mercy and forgiveness at those junctures that you have embarked on ventures or any other thing without God’s leading or approval.
2. Lord, give me the patience needed to wait for You and Your leading in all I do, so that I won’t regret in the end.
3. Pray that God should deliver our youths from the spirit of impatience that has led many into decisions they are living to regret.
EXTRA READINGS FOR TODAY: Deuteronomy 28:21-29:16; Luke 4:18-4:39