Faith Expressed in Love • Ruth 2

Boaz answered her, "I've heard all about you—

heard about the way you treated your mother-in-law 

after the death of her husband, 
and how you left your father and mother

and the land of your birth and have come to live 

among a bunch of total strangers. 

God reward you well for what you've done—

and with a generous bonus besides from God, 

to whom you've come seeking protection under his wings." 

Ruth 2:11-12

What matters is something far more interior: 

faith expressed in love.

Galatians 5:3

Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; 

that's how freedom grows. 

For everything we know about God's Word 

is summed up in a single sentence: 

Love others as you love yourself. 

That's an act of true freedom.

Galatians 5:14

•

She was a foreigner.

There she was in a strange place, far from home
with another to care for and provide for.

What was she to do?

Moving to this land she chose
to make their God her own.
She chose to make Him her refuge.

Physically her life may not have been very free,
but already she was walking in the freedom
of her Lord.

Stepping out in faith, she went out to
serve and provide for her loved one.

Faith expressed in love.

Her reputation proceeded her.
They all knew who she was and what
she had done.

Eyes had been watching
and they saw love, devotion,
faith and faithfulness.

Fruit blossomed in her life,
there for all to see.

She made God her refuge,
she hid in the shadow of His wings.

Ever so faithfully, so tenderly
God saw her, welcomed her,
showed her favor and provided for her.

•

Father, help me to live my life fully trusting You. Help me to step out and express my faith in love and to use my freedom to serve in love those You have placed in my life. Thank You that You see me, welcome me, show me favor and provide for me. Thank you for being my refuge, thank you for hiding me in the shadow of Your wing.