Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

TUESDAY MARCH 10


UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER

READ:
Ruth 2:12
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The LORD repay
your work, and
a full reward be
given by the
LORD God of Israel.
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Drew, young and enthusiastic, was leading the singing for the first time in a large church. Lois, a long-time attender, wanted to encourage him, but she thought it would be too difficult to get to the front of the church before he left. But then she saw a way to snake through the crowd. Lois told Drew, "I appreciate your enthusiasm in worship. Keep serving Him!"

As Lois walked away, she ran into Sharon, who she hadn't seen in months. After a short conversation, Sharon said, "Thank you for what yo do for the Lord. Keep serving Him!" Because Lois had gone out of her way to give encouragement, she was now in the right place to receive unexpected encouragement.

After Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, left Moab and returned to Israel, they received an unexpected blessing. They were both widows with no one to provide for them, so Ruth went to glean grain from a field (RUTH 22-3). The field happened to be owned by Boaz, a distant relative of Naomi's. He noticed Ruth, provided for her needs, and later became her husband (2-20, 4:13). Ruth received a blessing because she was in the right place at the right time (21:11-23).

Dear Lord, help me to go out of my way to encourage others__whether or
not I receive anything in return. My heart's desire is to help others along the
way to know You. May I be Your hands and feet. _________________________
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When it comes to helping others, don't stop at nothing.

**********************TODAY'S BIBLE READING __ Ruth 2:11-20************************

11 And Boaz...said to her, "It has been fully reported to
me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since
the death of your husband.... 12 Then LORD repay your
work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of
Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge."

13 Then she said, "Let me find favor in your sight, my lord;
for you have comforted me, and have spoken kindly to your
maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants."

14 Now Boaz said to her at mealtime, "Come here, and eat of
the bread, and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar."

So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed parched grain
to her; and she ate and was satisfied, and kept some back.

15 And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young
men, saying, "Let her glean even among the sheaves, and
do not reproach her. 16 Also let grain from the bundles fall
purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not
rebuke her."

17 So she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what
she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. 18 Then
she took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law
saw what she had gleaned. So she brought out and gave to her
what she had kept back after she had been satisfied.

19 And her mother-in-law said to her, "Where have you
gleaned today? And where did you work? Blessed be the one
who took notice of you."

So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked,
and said, "The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz."

20 Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "Blessed be he of
the Lord, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and
the dead!..."