CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
April 27, 2025
Ruth, a woman of honor and love
Ruth 1:3-18
Mother’s Day
is just 2 weeks away. I was going to highlight a couple of the great women,
mothers of the Bible starting next Sunday but with Walt being with us next week
we will look at Ruth this week and Mary, Jesus’ mother on Mother’s Day.
We have looked
at parts of the incredible story of Ruth before but this time we are going to look
even closer at this amazing woman. We began this morning reading about Naomi. If
we had begun with the first verse in chapter 1 we would have seen that Naomi
and her husband Elimelech moved from Judah to Moab because of a famine. They also
moved with their 2 sons. While in Moab Elimelech died leaving Naomi in a strange
land with her 2 sons.
Naomi’s 2 sons
married women from Moab during their time there. Unfortunately, Naomi’s sons
died leaving Naomi with 2 daughters in laws in a land they called home but a foreign
land to Naomi. Naomi decides to go back to Judah to be with family and friends that
her and her husband had left behind. Naomi told her daughters in law to stay home
in the land they knew and asked the Lord to grant them new husbands. Naomi Loved
and respected both of these women and wanted nothing but the best for them. At first
both resisted saying we will stay with you and go where you go. Eventually Orpah
decided to stay in Moab but Ruth refused, promising to go with Naomi and that Naomi’s
God would be her God.
Ruth loved
and respected her mother-in-law and her deceased husband so much that she was going
to go and be there for Naomi no matter where she went. At this time in history inheritance
was passed down through men in Judah so Naomi wasn’t intitled to any of Elimelech’s
property back in his home land. Naomi and Ruth had nothing so Naomi told Ruth to
pick up the leftovers from the barley harvest that was going on telling her hopefully
someone would look favorably on you.
A man of standing
in the land noticed Ruth and asked around about who she was and what she was
doing. Someone told him Naomi’s and Ruth’s story and he was impressed with Ruth’s
integrity and commitment to Naomi. To the point Boaz told the field supervisors
to leave some of the good stuff for Ruth to easily find. Ruth didn’t understand
why Boaz was helping her so much so she asked him about it, this is what he said.
In the 2nd chapter the 12 verse Boaz said, “May the Lord repay you
for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel,
under whose wings you have come in to take refuge.” Of course, Boaz was talking
about Ruth’s willingness to leave everything she knew to go with her mother-in-law
to a new land.
If we were
to read the rest of this incredible story, we would see that eventually Boaz and
Ruth married. They ultimately had a son whose name was Obed. Obed was the father
of Jesse who was the father of a pretty important man, King David. Ruth was a
woman of a different country and a different religious background before God lead
her to marry a man originally from Judah. After the death of her first husband,
her love and respect for her mother-in-law lead her to a new land a new culture
and a new faith. Ruth is the only non-Jewish person to have a book in the Old
Testament. Just as Boaz prayed, God did reward Ruth’s faithfulness with a place
in history that is as important as anyone’s. Because she was willing to leave what
was familiar and comfortable God forever Blessed her. She became the great grandmother
of the greatest warrior and king Israel ever had. She is also in the direct
lineage of Jesus Christ our Lord.
What an incredible
example of Love, Faith, and Trust she was and continues to be all these thousands
of years later. Ruth is also an example of the fact God just asks us to be willing
to be available to his calling. Even if we don’t realize that’s what God is
doing.
Ruth is a
special woman and mother who inspires women and men alike. She will forever be remembered
as a loving wife, daughter-in-law and mother may each of us find inspiration
from this amazing woman of God. For you women, you mothers here this morning
some of you might be like Naomi who made such an impact on Ruth that she
refused to leave her mother in laws side. Or maybe you are like Ruth who faithfully
did what she thought was right and God blessed her in incredible ways or maybe
you have been to a degree like both of these women. For all you women who
faithfully are making a difference I say and I know God says thank you. You may
never know on this earth just what kind of an impact you are making. As best
you can, just keep answering the call, as was true with Ruth, great will be
your reward.
Pastor Larry
Announcements:
Sunday School 9:00
Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study
May 1 Board Meeting—6:00
Commissions; 6:30 Board
May 4 Walt Wiltschek will be
with us for worship; we will have a potluck dinner afterwards for all.
May 14 Women’s Fellowship
lunch 12:00—baked potato bar—sign up sheet in the back
May 18 Council meeting after
worship
--May newsletter
submissions due April 30
First Sundays: Food Bank donations
Pastor Larry Traxler (217) 454-2362
Keep in Your Prayers
Vallen (Tracy’s
granddaughter); Pat Creviston; Stacie Warren; Doris Morganthaler; Nancy
Fansler; Ruth Siburt; Dorthea Wood; Mike and Kathy Gentry; Steve Needham; Larry
Traxler; Nancy Gorrell; Nora Hanaver; Ron and Kathleen Petersen; Doug Larrick; Louis
& Carol Sulwer; Shirley & Carroll Clarkson; David and Jan Bower; Debbie
Garvey Leibrock; Adiline Young; Mayo and Darlene Hanaver; many unspoken
requests; victims of shootings and of natural disasters; shut-ins; the Nigerian
church; the Haitian church; the CoB in the Democratic Republic of Congo; those
in the middle of war and violence; military and other services and their
families; Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers
District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the District’s
Ministry Leadership Development Team and all the clergy in the District.
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