To Kiss or To Clave (Ruth ch. 1)

Ruth 1:14 And they lifted up their voices and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto he.

In Ruth chapter one we are introduced to a family from Bethlehem and Wife named Naomi her Husband named Elimelech and her two sons. Do to a famine they left Bethlehem and went to live in Moab. In Moab Naomi’s husband dies and her to sons married Moabite women named Orpah and Ruth. After about 10 years. The Sons Died leaving Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth. After the loss of her Sons she decide to go back to the land of Judah. She had heard that the Lord was providing food there.  Then Naomi told her Daughter in laws to go back to there people, and that the that the Lord would show kindness on them. That there was no reason for them to stay with her that she would not be able to provide them with another husband. After Naomi tells them this Orpah kisses Naomi and Ruth Claves to here.

 This is what I would like to share for the next few min. One Kisses her and the other Claves to her.  First what is the difference?

To kiss- is to touch with lips to show love and or affection.

To clave- means to adhere or to cling, to stay attached.

Both of the women loved Naomi. Over the past 10 years they had got close to her and built a relationship with her. They had learned the same things over the past 10 years but when it came time to part there ways one went and one didn’t. WHY?

Ruth saw something in Naomi. Naomi was from Bethlehem and served the one True God.  Ruth and Orpah were Moabites and served idols.  Ruth got a taste of the real thing and wanted more.

Like Orpah some people only want to kiss the Truth or the way of God. They show affection to him but their mind is not made up to be steadfast. They have not determined to stick with him. They want to kiss him today and keep looking back at  the past to determine which is the better choice. 

The bible tells us to taste and see that the Lord is good but once the tasting is over once the kissing is over its time to grab a hold of the Lord and Cling to him.

We need to learn to be firm and unmovable. We must cling to God.  No mater what happens to us good or bad we must be in moveable, inseparable.  You got to put your whole heart in this. You cant keep kissing and looking back. If you are just kissing then you are getting satisfying yourself. You might love God but you have not given up the world yet.

 I think the difference in Ruth and Orpah. Is that the things they had learned from Naomi Ruth put it in her heart, and Orpah didn’t.  If you want to cling to something it will come from your heart.

Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Bless me Lord! Bless ME!! Lord!

Genesis 12:2 -3

2 “I will make you into a great nation,

   and I will bless you;

I will make your name great,

   and you will be a blessing.[a]

3 I will bless those who bless you,

   and whoever curses you I will curse;

and all peoples on earth

   will be blessed through you.

The though of "Keep Walking" has been on my mind all week.  I have talked about the Israelites Marching around the Walls of Jericho, and Peter walking on water. So this morning I began to read about Abrahams journey. He was know as a walker so I though it would benefit me to read it.  Little did I know I would read the first 3 verses and have to stop to write this.

Gen. 2 and 3 talks about God Blessing Abraham he tells him he will make him into a great nation and will bless him. He will make his name great and Abraham will be a blessing. He will bless those who bless him and will curse those who curse him, and all the people on earth will be blessed through Abraham.

I don’t know about you but I would not mind this blessing and have prayed similar prayers for this. I can’t think of anyone who would not want this blessing. But lets go back to verse 1

Gen 12:1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you

Before the Lord would be blessed Abram. He had something’s to do. He had to leave his country, leave his people, leave his fathers house.  In order for Abram to be blessed he had to leave everything he knew. He had to get out of his comfort zone. This had to require some faith. I can’t imagine leaving everything I worked for, all his accomplishments. His whole life he had to left behind.

So many times we pray for God to bless us.  Bless this, and bless that. We are really just asking for Gods stamp of approval on what we are currently doing. We want God to be apart of are plans and dreams when we should be asking him to allow us to be apart of his.  Lord forgive me for being guilty of this.  In order for Abram to get the blessing he had to become apart of Gods vision, Instead of asking God to be apart of his.

Walking On Water: Matthew 14:22-33

I admire Peter for his courage and faith. Many people talk about how he took his eyes off the Lord and started to sink. I can't knock him for that.  how many times have I took my eyes off of God and started sinking with out ever getting out of the boat. We all face storms and battles in are life and we all know that God is bigger then any mountain that we can or can not see. But just because we know God is bigger and just because we know God is going to take care of everything doesn't mean we don't worry form time to time. It's the storms that we go though in life that makes us who we are. Just because he can move every mountain doesn't mean he should or will. He did not keep the hebrew children from the furnace,  he did not keep daniel from the lions den, and he did not keep joseph out of prison. But one thing all these men did do was they kept walking no mater the storm they went through it.  we need to stop asking God to stop the storm or to move the mountain. And just start climbing it in faith. 
 Now back to Peter one thing that caught my attention reading this is in verse 28 And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." (Matthew 14:28 ESV) Peter did not just hop out of the boat and take off on his on. He asked God first. Lord if that's you tell me to come. How many times have I hoped out of the boat when I saw something I thought was God and was what I should do and ended up falling flat on my face. Why did this happen because I did not seek God first and later found out God was not in it. I have friends today who are not serving the Lord any more because the so called job that the Lord blessed them with later found out was really a curse and God was not in it.  Some times a simple prayer God is that you is all you need. The hard part is when he answer yes. Then it's on you to step out that boat.

Walk by Faith

Keep Walking...

Things I have learned lately about walking

Romans 6:4 - walk in newness of life

Romans 13:13 walk honestly

Romans 8:1 - do not walk according to the flesh

Galatians 5:16 & 25 - Walk in the Spirit

Psalms1:1 - Blessed is the man,   who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly

Ps. 86:11 walk in thy truth

Col. 4:5 Walk in wisdom

2 Cor. 5:7 walk by faith not by sight

Ephesians 5:2 walk in love

Pastor Shoulders a month or 2 ago talked about the Israelites marched around the walls 6 days prior to the walls falling on the seventh at Jericho. They did not complain or even speak for those 6 days. All they did was walk in obedience. Some times I what to ask God why? When I really need to just be obedient. I use to hate when you ask parents why? And they answer because I said so. God forgive me for every question you. I may not know Why, Where, or for How Long, but starting today let me be more obedient and not ask questions you are the Author of my life not me and you know what you are doing.  Let me walk by Faith and not by sight and let me keep walking because on the 7^th day you make all things complete.