Wings
Chris Seidman
Part of The Story 2024
February 29, 2024

The Story 2024

Wings
March 3, 2024
Chris Seidman, Lead Minister, The Branch


Ruth 1:19-21 (The Story, Page 122)
When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”

“Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”


Ruth 1:16-17 (The Story, Page 122)
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. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”


Ruth 2:3 (The Story, Page 123)
As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.


Ruth 2:20b (The Story, Page 124)
“That man is our close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers.”

Three Takeaways …

  • God can often be misunderstood by us while He works out His purposes for us and through us.

  • God’s hand is not just found in the miraculous, but also in the mundane.

  • Some of God’s best healing work happens through people loving others when it’s hard.


Ruth 2:12b (The Story, page 123)
“May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”


Ruth 3:9 (The Story, page 125)
“I am your servant Ruth … . Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.“


Psalm 17:6, 8 (NIV)
I call on, my God, for you will answer me … .

(Vs. 8) … hide me in the shadow of your wings … .


Psalm 36:7 (NIV)
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.


Ephesians 1:7a (NIV)
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins … .

Communion

  • What could the Lord be saying to you today through the story of Ruth?