Topic: DON’T STRADDLE THE FENCE – Bishop Mike Okonkwo Devotional 25 March 2020 [The Redeemed Evangelical Mission]
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DON’T STRADDLE THE FENCE
“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.” Ruth 1:16-17 KJV.
This account in the Bible tells of what became of Ruth, Orpah and Naomi their mother-law, after they had lost their husbands. Then Naomi arose to return to the land of Judah: “And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me” (Ruth 1:8 KJV). And Orpah kissed her mother-in -law goodbye, but Ruth clave unto her.
Orpah chose not only to return to her people but also to her gods. But Ruth’s resolve to follow Naomi was also a decision to faithfully follow the God of Israel. You see, this scripture shows us that there are people who fully follow the Lord and there are those who are just straddling the fence. It is profitable to fully follow the Lord because you cannot be abandoned. Ruth fully followed the Lord and she was divinely settled.
Orpah’s decision to turn back showed that she wasn’t fully following the Lord. It was a case of: “Let’s try out this born-again thing.” For Ruth, regardless of how bleak the future seemed, her mind was made up (Ruth1:16). Ruth knew that her generation was not meant to be in the presence of God. Thus, she resolved saying: “I have been connected back to Jehovah and I will prefer to serve this God whether He does something for me or not.” Because of her faithfulness, this Moabitess, who ought not to be in the congregation of the saints; broke into the lineage of Christ. May you break into the unusual glory of God!
Further Reading: Ruth 2:1-16, 4:13-22
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Joshua 16-18; Evening- Luke 2:1-24
