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Let Us Crossover
Song: I just want to be where You are, A. Introduction What do we mean by crossover, where are we crossing from and where are we crossing to? Literally, we are crossing over from an old year to a New Year. More than that, we are crossing over from sorrow, pain and grief to joy From shame and defeat to victory From depression to happiness From fear to courage From ill-health and disease to sound health From poverty to riches From depression to happiness From fear to courage From ill-health and disease to sound health From poverty to riches Above all, from the kingdom of darkness, Satan, all sorts of vices, addictions, evil habits, bondage, slavery to the kingdom of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. For the bible says: ‘Behold the light has appeared and darkness cannot comprehend it’ (John 1:5). So let the world see Jesus in you. This is the best choice/decision you can make this year and forever. Our main bible reading: Ruth 1 Naomi Loses Her Husband and Sons 1 In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. 2 The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there. 3 Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband. Naomi and Ruth Return to Bethlehem6 When Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. 7 With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah. 8 Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the LORD show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. 9 May the LORD grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.” Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud 10 and said to her, “We will go back with you to your people.” 11 But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? 12 Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— 13 would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD’s hand has turned against me!” 14 At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her. 15 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” 16 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. 17 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.” 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. 19 So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?” 20 “Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. 21 I went away full, but the LORD 22 So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning. B. Consequences of our bad choices Ruth 1:1-5 Elimelech's care to provide for his family was not to be blamed; but his removal into the country of Moab (an idolatrous nation) could not be justified. And the removal ended in the wasting of his family. Earthly trials or enjoyments are of short continuance. Death continually removes those of every age and situation, and mars all our outward comforts: we cannot too strongly prefer those advantages which shall last for ever. The psalmist says those who run after other gods will multiply their sorrows (Psalm 16:4). So do not because of momentary challenges forsake your God, your godly character and follow the multitude to commit (Exodus 23:2). As you journey through life, you’ll need to continually pray for the grace of patience; a Chinese proverb says: ‘Patience is a bitter plant, but it has sweet fruit.’ Paul said in Romans 12:12; ‘ Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.’ Learn to be still and cast your burdens on the Lord. God is timely and timeless; He can’t be rushed and He won’t just rubber stamp all your plans without careful scrutiny. C. The need to let go and let God Ruth 1:6-114 Then Naomi arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab after the death of her two sons, and having heard of the ceasing of the famine in Israel, she had a desire to go into her own country, where she would have better opportunities of serving the Lord; and having no heart to stay in Moab, an idolatrous country, where she had lost her husband, and her two sons; and therefore prepared for her journey, and set forward, and her two daughters-in-law with her. Truly weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5); the Lord had blessed the land of Bethlehem (the House of Bread) with bread. We read in Ruth 1:11-13 how Naomi made a frank assessment of her situation. There are three issues here; firstly; an assumption that all is well and this leads to self-deception. Paul said in Galatians 6:3; ‘If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.’ Self-deceit is a misconception that is favourable to the person who holds it.Not surprisingly, scripture repeatedly warns against deception (Jeremiah 17:9; Galatians 6:7; Ephesians 5:6; James 1:22). Secondly ; under-estimating your effort and thereby humiliating yourself; this will lead to self-pity. Thirdly; do a frank assessment of your situation and then hand the situation to God who loves you just as you are. And he alone can change your situation to a better one. He alone can lift you from whatever situation you are to where he wants you to be. He is the God of grace! “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” (Ephesians 3:20). Now in Ruth 1:14, Orpah loved Naomi, and yet left her, because she (Orpah) did not love her enough, but love other things better. The message here is that some friends will not always be there for you forever. Some people come into your life for a purpose and a specified period of time. And when the time is ripe, they will go. So let them go and do not blacklist them for doing that. And you must not hang on to a relationship forever or by force. So for Naomi, it was time for her to crossover. It was time to move on with her life. No matter how terrible the past may be, the future is bright and spotless. So let go and let God! D. Persistency in the midst of challenges Ruth 1:15-18 See Ruth's resolution, and her good affection to Naomi. Orpah was reluctant to part from her; yet she did not love her well enough to leave Moab for her sake. Thus, many have a value and affection for Christ, yet come short of salvation by him, because they will not forsake other things for him. They love him, yet leave him, because they do not love him enough, but love other things better. Ruth is an example of the grace of God, inclining the soul to choose the better part. Naomi could desire no more than the solemn declaration Ruth made. See the power of resolution; it silences temptation. Those that go in religious ways without a steadfast mind; stand like a door half open, which invites a thief; but resolution shuts and bolts the door, resists the devil and forces him to flee. So you’ll have to make up your mind to remain fervent this year and forever. Yes life will throw different challenges at you, but never allow these momentary challenges to steal away your joy and your song. If you study the remaining chapters in the book of Ruth, you’ll find out that Ruth was richly rewarded for her fervency and what more, she was listed in the genealogy of Jesus (Ruth 4:22, Matthew 1:5). The glory of the later will be more than the former! E. Accept responsibility for your actions Ruth 1:19-22 Naomi and Ruth came to Bethlehem. Afflictions will make great and surprising changes in a little time. May God, by his grace, fit us for all such changes. Naomi signifies pleasant, or amiable; Mara, bitter, or bitterness. She was now a woman of a sorrowful spirit. She had come home empty, poor, a widow and childless. She however took responsibility for all her actions. No blame game here. She was greatly humbled by her afflictions. But again her sincerity paid off eventually. Therefore I pray that God will continue to bless you and all your endeavours this year and forever. As you’ve entered this year full (in all ramifications – health, finances, family, career, etc) that you will not come to the end of the year empty. But remain connected to the source of life! God bless you JB. Oseh |