The Bigger Picture

Ruth 4:17 – 22 “The women living there said, ‘Naomi has a son.’ And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. This, then, is the family line of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David.”

Have you ever noticed how self-centered a baby is? Seriously, it’s a good thing they are so cute, because if they weren’t, they wouldn’t stand much of a chance. They cry when they want something. They get angry when they don’t get it immediately. They make big messes. But we, as adults, adore them! And part of the reason we love them so much – besides the cute thing – is because we see the bigger picture of their lives. We look at babies and see hope and a future filled with unlimited potential.

I wonder if that is how God sees us. It must be, because honestly, we really don’t have much to offer Him. Yet, He has the ability to see into the future. He knows what is down the road, and He wants to use our lives as pieces in that road, from the present to the glorious future He has in store for those who love Him. He wants to use us as links in the bridge that leads people to Christ.

Look at Ruth. In many ways, she had a hard life. She was widowed at a young age. She left her family and friends to go into a strange land, expecting to be treated as an outcast and a beggar. I imagine she was thrilled to find Boaz, and to have her happy ending. But I’ll just bet she didn’t have a clue how God wanted to use her, in the grand scheme of things. She just quietly lived her life, loving others and loving God. She probably didn’t live to see her great-grandson become king. She certainly didn’t live to see the Son of God born into her family.

But God’s plans for our lives are always bigger than our own plans. And very often, He doesn’t reveal those plans to us because, truthfully, He knows we would be overwhelmed. If I knew everything that God has in store for my children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren, I would probably try to take the steering wheel away from God, and drive things myself.

But the future belongs to the Lord. The present, the little daily choices we make to love others and serve Him – those are ours to make. And when we make them well, when we live our minutes and hours and days for Him, they will always add up to a life that has great significance, in the bigger picture.

Dear Father, Thank You for Ruth’s example of humble, gracious, loving service to You and to others. Please help me to live each day for You, and to trust You with the future.

Amen

One Response to The Bigger Picture

  1. February 6, 2008 #

    Great job on all of Ruth! This is a strong ending!

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