Devotions: Ps 140-43; Ruth 3:1-18; 2 Cor 4:1-12; Mt 5:38-48
Deliver me, Lord, from evil men—from violent and wicked hands. Let their mischief be turned back upon them. Set a guard over my mouth, YHWH, that I not incline my heart or my speech to evil. Let my rebukes come from God and from good people. All my senses are trained upon You, my God. Guide me safe from their snares. You are my Refuge, Lord; heed my cry for help. Listen to my supplications; answer me in Your righteousness. The enemy is hard after me, but I long for Your deliverance. Let me hear of Your steadfast love; teach me to do Your will, my God; lead me on a level path and cut off my enemies; I am Your servant.
Naomi stepped in to help Ruth. She directed her to cleanse and anoint herself and to dress in her best clothes, and to seek out Boaz after he had finished feasting and drinking at the threshing site, and to lie down at his feet, then to do whatever Boaz directed. And so at midnight Boaz was startled to awaken with a woman at his feet. He asked her name, and she replied that she was Ruth, and asked him to 'spread your skirt over your maidservant, for you are the next of kin.' [This was a way of inviting him to marry her, as a kinsman redeemer.] Boaz blessed Ruth, and told her he would take up her cause. But there was one kinsman nearer than himself, and that man would have to forego his claim and responsibility before Boaz could claim Ruth. So she lay at his feet through the night; before dawn, Boaz gave her six measures of barley, and Ruth returned to report to Naomi. Naomi was satisfied: 'Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest, but will settle the matter today.'
Paul and Timothy wrote to the Corinthians: We do not lose heart, having this ministry by God's mercy. We have renounced ungodly ways; we refuse to tamper with God's word or to practice cunning. By open statement of truth we would commend ourselves to every person's conscience in God's sight. If our gospel is veiled, it is so only to those who are perishing. The god of this world has blinded the unbelievers' minds, preventing them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God. 'For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.' God said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' and He has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of the Messiah. But we have this treasure in clay vessels, showing that the transcendant power is God's, not ours. We are afflicted, but not crushed; perplexed, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry in our bodies the death of Jesus, so that His life may also be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life is working in you.
Jesus proclaimed: You have heard, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist one who is evil. If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him too. If anyone would sue you to take your coat, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him a second mile. Give to the one who begs from you, and don't refuse one who would borrow from you. You've heard it said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sones of your heavenly Father; for He makes His sun rise on the just and the unjust alike, and sends His rain to the good and evil alike. If you love those who love you, what reward can you expect? Even tax collectors do that! If you salute only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing more than others? Even Gentiles do those things. Therefore, you must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
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