5 HABITS BIBLE STUDY WEEK 2

Well, I don’t know about ya’ll, but last week’s Iesson gave me a new insight to this story. Different things I really never did notice.

We saw that Ruth “endured”, Orpah “escaped” and Ruth “enlisted” . This enlistment is our first habit.

So what is refinement? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary it is “the act or process of removing unwanted substances from something : the act or process of making something pure”

I don’t know about you but I have a lot of “unwanted “ substances that need to be removed.

THIS WEEK’S READING: RUTH 1:19-2:12

Last week we left Naomi feeling bitter and wanting her daughters-in-law to go back to their home and not return with her to Bethlehem. Oprah finally decided to return but Ruth pledged her devotion to Naomi. This was Ruth’s accepting the assignment of refinement. She is not sure what to expect but she accepts it and trust this new God.

 So these women are traveling together back to Bethlehem where now there is no famine.  Not only did Ruth commit herself to Ruth but she has committed herself to the living God.  Think about what those conversations were like. Did Naomi instruct Ruth more about her God and His Laws or do you think she remained angry with the Lord.

When they got to Bethlehem the city was excited about their arrival. But Ruth continued her bitterness when she said “ Don’t call me Naomi, call me Mara” . She had left Bethlehem with a husband and two sons and come home without them. She had gone to Moab possessing the necessities of life, but now she had returned home having nothing.

Sometime we don’t see what we have to be grateful for when we go through trials and tribulations.  Naomi thought her life had ended, but her trials were really a new beginning. She had lost faith and hope. When we are going through something that feels hard and not going like we think, it’s hard to see the good and know it won’t last forever.  However, something powerful happens when we allow others to see how God is shaping and developing us. Many times people realize they are not alone.

What other things should Naomi be thankful for?

At the time they arrive at Bethlehem it was harvest time. A time when the community expressed joy and praise to God for His goodness. It was spring, a time of new life and new beginning. That is exactly what Naomi and Ruth was about to experience. Harvest was a sign of better things to come.

Although Naomi was bitter against God, Ruth was willing for God to have His way in her life, so God began His gracious works with Ruth. 

Ruth knew that she needed to do something in order for them to survive. So she asked Naomi’s permission to glean in the fields so they would have food to eat.  This was a step of faith. The gleaning was left for the poor to get. That was what God had commanded.

Now this is where God intervenes. So Ruth goes out to look for a field to glean, so being a stranger she didn’t know who owned what field. So she found a place and started to glean. This field belonged to Boaz, who was a man of standing in the community.

Boaz was concerned about his workers and wanted them to enjoy the blessings of the Lord, so he went out to greet them. Then Ruth caught his eye. Was this love at first sight? So he inquired about her and when she heard that she was with Naomi when she returned to Bethlehem, he went to her. He told her to glean only his fields and to follow the other women that were harvesting.  Then Ruth humbled herself to him, asking why he being so kind. Boaz told her that he had heard of the good things she had done for her mother-in-law and all that she had been through.

When I read this, I got the feeling that she was probably gleaning what had already been gleaned. And Boaz was now giving her first shot at the gleaning.

QUIT QUITTING VERSES:

      ROMANS 8:18

      2 CORINTHIANS 4:17

      EPHESIANS 4:31

      2 CORINTHIANS 4:8-9

      JAMES 1:2-4

Q.U.I.T strategy.

Q – QUESTIONS WE NEED TO ASK AND ANSWER

What are your assignments of refinement right now? How is God trying to improve your character? Are there any areas where you’re resisting this process?

U – UNDERSTANDING THE WORD

Who was the new character introduced this week? What harvest season was going on when Ruth and Naomi arrived in Bethlehem?

I – INTO THE PROMISE

. Which of the Quit Quitting Verse spoke to you the most this week and why?

T – TURN SOMETHING AROUND

Think of an area in your life where you have resisted refinement. It could be with your health, your dreams, your job, or a relationship. Write down a few possible areas in which God could be taking you through a season of refinement.