Ruth 1:16  But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.

Mother-in-law jokes are a whole category of humor. Some people are always ready with a new one! They can be funny and they can be a bit biting. But it is true that sometimes our relationships can be challenging.

Ruth had not been that long connected to Naomi but in that a time, an impression was made on her. Far from the stereotypical mother-in-law, Naomi had been winsome. Whatever she had, whatever made her the way she was, Ruth was interested. More than that, Ruth would say, whatever Naomi is into, I want to be into. Even in the worst circumstances of life, her manner of living had won Ruth.

When Jesus had risen from the dead He gathered His disciples just before He would ascend to Heave. He had some last instructions for them. He said in Matthew 28:16

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

When we realize that this was not a commission Jesus’ original eleven disciples only, but is for us as well, we might blench. It’s easy to read this and immediately think, “Who? Me?!” But actually, yes. You. And Me. And all who follow Jesus. But how can we possibly do this? We start by doing our best to be winsome. By focusing first on the relationships we already have and allowing Jesus to shape our actions and reactions.

We ask Jesus to help us love people so much that they naturally want more. We certainly can’t be who we are not, but we can be the person that Jesus envisioned. As we do this, people may want to go where we go, be associated with our people, and even become interested in our God!

 

Blessings,

Pastor Russ