Today's Walk by Jim Reynolds

Kissing God

Not long ago, God asked me a question. As we walk together this week, He's asking you the same question. Your answer is crucial. Your answer will determine much about your future. Your answer is the difference between life and “abundant” life. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

  You remember the story of Ruth. A famine forced Elimelech and his wife, Naomi, to leave Bethlehem with their two sons. They took refuge in Moab where Elimelech died. The two sons married Moabite women – Orpah and Ruth. In a staggering blow of heartache, both sons also died, leaving Naomi bereft of family and utterly alone – a vulnerable, frightening position for a woman of that day. After hearing that the famine in her homeland was over, Naomi decided to move back, perhaps hoping that someone would help care for her.

  It appears not long after they left, Naomi came to a difficult decision. Not knowing what risks and trouble were ahead -- and understanding the sacrifice it would be for the girls -- Naomi selflessly asked her daughters-in-law to return home. She blessed them and encouraged them to find new husbands, even though by sending them home, she was cutting off one more possibility for her own welfare.

Ruth 1:9-13 -- Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, " No, but we will surely return with you to your people." 11 But Naomi said, "Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 "Return, my daughters! 14 … And they lifted up their voices and wept again;

  This is the third time Naomi implored her girls to “return.” She flatly explains there is no reason to go with her. If they stay with Naomi, it is unlikely any of them will ever marry again. They will be forced into perpetual widowhood and poverty. She tells them the truth: I can't offer you anything … not security or happiness or even hope. Naomi believed that she was under the judgment of God and that her situation would not change any time soon. She believed that anyone who came with her would also be under this curse. (Little did she know that one of the people she was trying to convince to leave her is the very one God will use to bless her immeasurably.)

It took a little convincing – and a lot of crying – but the Bible then says, “And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.” It is interesting to me how strong the Bible intends this moment to be. The word for “clung” is the same that Genesis uses to speak of marriage – For this reason a man shall leave his father's house and shall cleave (or cling) to his wife…”

With Orpah gone, Naomi continued coaxing Ruth. Ruth 1:15 - -- 15 Then she said, "Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law." Orpah returned to her old way of life; she also disappears from the pages of history.

Then, the Bible records a profound act of devotion and some of the most tender, yet charged with purpose, words ever spoken. 16 But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. 17 "Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried… 18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her. 19 So they both went until they came to Bethlehem .

Ruth's incredible statement of solidarity, support, faith, and love binds these two together in a way that will transform history. She makes a seven-fold commitment to Naomi… a seven-fold commitment that for all she knows could end in disaster.

•  She says, “Don't tell me not to follow you. (I love you and I want to follow you.)

•  Wherever you go, I will go (and it doesn't matter if I don't like it or it is unfamiliar or if it turns out wonderfully…)

•  Where you stay, I will stay. Where you live, I will live (and I will share in all that this means. No matter the blessings or the hardships that this brings, I'm going to stay with you.)

•  Your people shall be my people. I claim them as my own. I will leave everyone I know simply to follow you… I'm forsaking my people, idolaters, and I'm identifying myself with God's people. You say I'll be an outcast. Fine, I'll be an outcast, but thy people will be my people.

•  Your God will be my God. I don't know Him well yet – and some of what I know, frankly, I don't like – but I will know Him more through you…

•  Where you die, I will die. I am going to stick this out until we die. This is a life-long commitment to you. And, again, I am willing to cut off all ties with my past simply to be with you…

•  I take ALL of these curses of your God on myself unless I hold true to this word. This is an oath, a promise! I didn't make this for just a day or for an hour. I made this decision for time and for eternity.

Though tempted, we shouldn't compare Orpah and Ruth. We should not jump to the conclusion that Orpah returned to a life of rampant, immoral idolatry while Ruth, of course, wound up in the genealogy of Christ. We shouldn't question Orpah's love. It is clear that Orpah didn't want to leave… but was convinced by Naomi that it was the right thing to do. As an expression of her love, Orpah cried and kissed Naomi goodbye. Don't overlook the fact that Orpah shed just as many tears as Ruth. Her handkerchief was just as damp. But there is one obvious difference. One loved. One loved… AND followed. In spite of the danger, the insecurity, the lack of hope, the fear… Ruth followed.

The question God asked me sounds strange. But, with the background of Ruth's story, hear Him ask you as well. Are you just kissing God – or will you follow Him and “cling” to Him… no matter what? Charles Spurgeon puts it this way. “ It is one thing to love the ways of the Lord when all is fair, and quite another to cleave to them under all discouragements and difficulties. The kiss of outward profession is very cheap and easy, but the practical cleaving to the Lord, which must show itself in holy decision for truth and holiness, is not so small a matter... “

The New Testament also records an example of this kind of cleaving. After delivering a particularly challenging message, the Bible records that “ many of (Jesus') disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore.” Jesus then pulled His 12 disciples aside and bluntly asked, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" ( John 6:66-67 ) In other words, “I know you love Me, but will you still follow Me?”

So… we all love God. We've had wonderful experiences with Him. We've probably been through some grief with Him as well. But, when the walk turns in a direction that is uncertain, fearful, or opposed to our desires, will you kiss Him and go back? Or will you follow? Spurgeon prays the following: “ O that this morning we may not be content with the form of devotion, which may be no better than Orpah's kiss, but may the Holy Spirit work in us a cleaving of our whole heart to our Lord Jesus .”

Walk WITH Jesus,

Jim

A shorter version Walk WITH Jesus is actually published weekly , via e-mail.

TO SUBSCRIBE send a blank message to walkwithjesus-subscribe@associate.com

Then click "Reply" when you receive the confirmation request.

If you believe this letter would benefit others, feel free to forward it along / post it to message boards / etc and encourage others to subscribe, please include proper credits.

Jim Reynolds – John 14:1-6

Copyright 2006, 2008

-----

BIO

At this writing , Jim and his family are following… On December 28 th , Jim resigned from the only ministry he has ever known… to accept a new ministry in a city 2 and a half hours north and east of here (why did it have to be colder?!) He and his family are quite excited by the opportunities that lie in the future… but are also quite sad to leave these loving folks. Please pray for me, my family, and both churches during this transition time.

Jim grew up – and sometimes still longs for – the suburbs of Kansas City, but now has the privilege of serving as the pastor of a rural Midwestern church. He and his wonderful, beautiful, multi-talented wife, Deanna, have two children still with them and one “Punkin Seed” waiting for them in Heaven; she “went to live with her other Daddy” at the age of 5 ½ months. Jim is thrilled, humbled, and grateful for the opportunity to write for this magazine.