Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – March 8, 2016
But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’ Acts 5:29
When I first aspired to become a writer I was ecstatic, but not everyone shared my enthusiasm. In fact, some people close to me, including my mom, thought I had lost all sensibility. After all, I hadn’t written much of anything beside a few poems and short stories in high school and I didn’t have a journalism degree. All I had was a burning desire that defied reason. I truly felt called by God to put words on a page, so I started freelancing.
One day Mom urged me to get a full-time position. She was fearful and felt I needed to earn more money. I strongly believed that if I took her suggestion, I would be out of God’s will. Looking back, I realize that if I had done what Mom asked, I would have missed out on seeing God work in so many amazing ways and Mom would have missed it too. Some time ago, she told me, “My faith has grown as I have watched the Lord provide for you.”
My experience reminds me of what transpired between Ruth and Naomi in the book of Ruth. When Naomi’s husband and two sons died, she was left alone with her daughters in law, Ruth and Orpah. Naomi wanted to leave Moab where she had been living with her husband and her sons and daughters in law, back to Bethlehem and to her people. So she urged Orpah and Ruth to leave her and go back home because this is what she thought was best. But Ruth clung to Naomi, and she urged her not to tell her to go away. Ruth made a promise to Naomi when she said,
“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 1:16-17).
Ruth’s loyalty and deep conviction led her to go against her mother-in-law’s urging. This led Ruth to Bethlehem with Naomi, where she later met and married Boaz, and together they had a son. As a wonderful end to this tragic story, Naomi’s family—and hope—were restored. Can you imagine what Naomi would have missed out on if Ruth had taken her advice rather than following her conviction?
Is someone in your life urging you to do what they believe is best for you but it goes against what God is calling you to? Could it be that saying yes to them would mean saying no to blessing them later? Follow God even if it means the one urging you is displeased. You won’t do them any favors by pacifying or pleasing them at the expense of following God. In fact, you could rob them of blessings and the joy they will receive from watching God work in your life.
Isn’t it liberating to remember that our first priority is to follow the Lord while He takes care of the rest?
“Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, ‘Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.’” (Matthew 8:19)
Prayer: “Lord, please help me to always remember to follow you first rather than pleasing men. Amen.”
Application: If you need to say no to someone and say yes to God, do it today.
Related Readings: 1 Corinthians 1:20; Luke 14:33; 1 Corinthians 3:19
Tweet this today: Why saying no can bless the one who opposes you. #WisdomHunters #FollowingRuth
Worship Video: 4 minutes – United: Say the Word
Check out Boyd’s newest devotional book Two Minutes in the Bible for Men. Order now!
If you are blessed by these daily devotionals please prayerfully consider a donation to support Wisdom Hunters Resources. We are trusting the Lord for His provision. Learn how to help.
Our free Apple app Our free Android app
© 2016 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved.
Comments are closed.
I feel like this sometimes, although in a bit different scenario. My husband of 30 years attends church, but that is where his show of faith ends. He does not speak of his faith and does not want to discuss it with me or anyone. He shows no desire to grow in his faith. My problem is that I constantly want to grow in and share my faith, and I do so with friends and relatives. I am almost afraid that growing in my faith will cause an even bigger rift in my marriage than is there already. I know how that sounds, but it is a fear I deal with, and I find myself holding back in pursuing faithful endeavors because of it. I have discussed this with my husband, but we view this issue very differently so the problem remains.
Dear Doni,
Thank you for reaching out to us after reading “Yes to God May Mean No to Another”. I appreciate the honesty and sincerity in your words and my feeling is you may be speaking for not only yourself, but others in our Wisdom Hunter’s family. So, on behalf of those you are also speaking for, thank you for sharing your thoughts.
I am thankful that you know the Lord as your Savior and that you know HE is walking beside you in your marriage. I rejoice in the fact HE hears your pleas and prayers for your husband and it is OUR SAVIOR that will change your husband’s heart. Someone told me years ago, I could not change someone’s heart but I could pray to the ONE who could. (It took me many years to understand that…)
Doni, there are many wonderful and wise pastoral counselors out there that may be helpful. Maybe you could be praying for God’s Wisdom and Discernment to lead you both to a faithfilled marriage counselor?
And by the way, what a blessing you are to your husband! To have a faithful wife that prays for him is such an amazing gift.
“A wife of noble character, who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.”
Proverbs 31:10-11
Doni, if you would like to continue our conversation, feel free to contact me.
gwynne@wisdomhunters.com
Also, if you would like us to pray for you and your husband, let me know. We would be blessed to pray for you.
We are so thankful that you are a fellow wisdom hunter. May God bless you.
Believing and trusting~
Gwynne
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:11-13