Christmas With Great Grandma RuthSample

Don't miss the very first few words of the book of Ruth. They seem minor and unimportant, but they are the frame in which the author spends the next 4 chapters painting a beautiful picture of God's sovereignty and kindness. The events of this book and Ruth's story take place in the days when the judges ruled. The "judges" are the individuals God used to bring order and stability to the Israelite people before kings were established in the land. If you read the book of Judges, you’re consistently confronted with the cyclical sinfulness and corruption of God’s people. The book of Ruth begins by informing us that this beautiful story of hope and God’s sovereignty takes place against the backdrop of chaos and corruption. It's a reminder to us that even when the world seems to be falling apart, God is still weaving things together for the good of his people.

That's true on a large scale for God's people as a whole, but as we spend some time in the story of Ruth and Naomi, we see it's true for each of us individually as well. God is weaving together something good amid the suffering, loss, and uncertainty that these two women are experiencing. He's doing the same for us right now.

Reflection Prompt:

• Where in your life are you currently experiencing suffering, loss, or uncertainty?
• On a scale from 1-10, how hopeful and joyful do you feel as you approach Christmas this season? (10 being completely full of hope and joy)