DCLM Daily Manna 13 February 2022 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Decision Of The Wise
TOPIC: Decision Of The Wise
TEXT: Ruth 1:6-22 (KJV)
6 Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread.
7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.
8 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.
9 The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;
13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.
14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
16 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:
17 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.
18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
19 So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
21 I went out full and the Lord hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?
22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
KEY VERSE: “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.” – (Ruth 1:16)
MESSAGE:
Every man, to a large extent, is a product of his choices. You have but a single life, which is strongly anchored on your decisions and choices. Your decision and choices have kept you where you have been and where you are today. But it is of no use wasting tears upon blotted record of lost years. There are still blank pages of your life that you are yet to fill. And it is great to know that you can begin again.
Naomi had lost her husband and two sons in a sojourn to Moab and decided to return to Israel. Out of concern, she pleaded with her daughters-in-law to remain in their country, as there was no hope for them with her. While Orpah yielded, Ruth determined to return with her to Israel. Her decision to worship and serve the true and living God of Israel was rewarded, as she became the great grandmother of King David and a direct ancestor of Jesus.
Decisions and perseverance are noble qualities of man. We live by making decisions, which determine our destiny. Delayed decision may be good sometimes, but in many cases, it is disastrous. A churchgoer decided on a particular night that he would not leave the church building until he had settled the question of his soul’s salvation. The next day, he was involved in a terrible explosion in the mine where he worked. Before he died, he was heard muttering repeatedly, “It’s a good thing I settled it last night”.
When God calls, it is dangerous to delay. Indecision or procrastination is a problem. Tomorrow might be too late. Be definite in your choice. Be wise.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
There is no progress without decision.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Joshua 8-10
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.