Ruth 1, Proverbs 29, James 1

Why did Ruth stay with Naomi? The love between the girls and their mother-in-law is demonstrated by their tears at the thought of leaving her. Why did Ruth choose Naomi's God? Because Naomi introduced Him to her and lived out her faith and His love. She didn't have to. In legal and religious terms, her sons had disobeyed by marrying foreign women. Instead of judging them, Naomi loved them.

The wicked and the foolish are both contrasted with the righteous and wise. And no matter if a person is poor or a king, the Lord metes out justice. He is love, but He does judge sin. The blood of Christ covers our sins at salvation, so whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe. This was the ultimate decision of Ruth -- to trust in the One True God.

Proverbs 29 and James 1 say many of the same things. The wise person is slow to speak. God is the source of wisdom and love. The rich and poor are the same before the Lord. And keeping oneself "unspotted from the world" by righteous living pleases God.

Naomi must have lived a wise and righteous life to have such an impact on Ruth.

Do others see the difference in my life?

Judges 20, Proverbs 28, Hebrews 13

The end result of sin is always death. Romans 6:23 says, "The wages of sin is death." Thousands of men and an unrecorded number of women and children died in the war between the tribes of Israel. The culprits in the sin died as well as by-standers who, up until that day, refused to speak out and condemn the behavior around them. The entire tribe of Benjamin suffered the consequences of a sin allowed to continue in their midst.

The contrast between the wicked and the righteous, the greedy and the wise, is stark. Verse 13 says, "He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy." No one is perfect; we all sin. But when we confess and then change our behavior, God forgives. Israel stood before God and confessed. The tribe of Benjamin did not.

While Paul's focus was on eternity in heaven, he ended his letter to the Hebrews with practical advice. Live a moral life. Stay true to the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Share what you have with others. Be submissive to the pastor (v.17). Pray for his (Paul's) release.

Making an effort to live a life free from sin, and confessing when we do sin, keeps us unencumbered and able to focus on the kingdom that awaits us.