Ruth 3:1-5 Preparation For Meeting God

"Like Ruth, we must not be satisfied merely with living on leftovers, or even receiving gifts.  We must want Him alone, for when we have Him, we also have all that He owns.  It's not the gifts that we seek, but the Giver," my commentary began.

The focus in these five verses was the preparation Ruth needed before she presented herself to Boaz.  

First, she washed herself.  "If we want to enter into a deeper relationship with our Lord, we must 'cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.'  Whenever we sin, we must pray, 'Wash me.' ... We must separate ourselves from whatever defiles us and grieves the Father.

Second, she anointed herself.  "Anointing oil speaks of the presence and the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives ... If the spotless Son of God needed the Spirit's power, how much more do we?"

Third, she changed clothes.  "We can't come into God's presence in our own righteousness ... we can only come in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, for we are 'accepted in the beloved.'"

Fourth, Ruth prepared herself by learning how to present herself to him.  "The Old Testament priests knew how to approach God because He gave them instructions in the law.  New Testament Christians know how to approach God because in the Word He has told us what is required ... We have no right to alter the principles of approach that God laid down."

Fifth, Ruth promised to obey.  "She was not only a hearer of the Word, but she was a doer.  A willingness to obey the Lord is the secret of knowing what He wants us to do and being blessed when we do it.... The will of God is not a cafeteria where we can pick and choose what we want.  God expects us to accept all that He plans for us and to obey Him completely."

Father, thank You for again showing me that I have to make sure I am ready to hear from You and that I must rid myself of everything that stands between us.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford