September 8, 2023

Author: Pastor David Miner
September 08, 2023

Reading: Ruth 1 Optional Reading: Ruth 2 - 4
“16 But Ruth replied, “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." (Ruth 1:16 NIV)

Maybe you have heard or been part of a conversation that went something like the following.
The three guys stood in the hallway talking, “I can’t believe he said that to Professor Miller. He is the hardest teacher in the school,” said David.
“He is going to flunk, I bet,” said John’s best friend Mike answered.
David came back with the words, “He is just an idiot, that is all. I don’t like him.”
Alan, the third member of the group said, “He is not really an idiot. He just does not know how to control his mouth.”
“You are always defending him, Alan,” David said. “What is he to you anyway?”
“Nothing much,” Alan answered. “We were friends in the first and second grade. We are still friends.”
“Well, he is going to mess it up for everybody,” David added.
“I will talk to him,” Alan finally said.
Although you may not know what these boys were talking about, you probably recognize something about Alan that stands out. He is loyal. He did not talk badly about his brother in Christ, even though his friend made a big mistake. He is willing to talk to his friend and help him out.
Loyalty is hard to find in the world today. Ruth had it toward Naomi. Do you have it toward your brothers and sisters in Christ?

Jesus, help me to be loyal to my brothers and sisters in Christ. Even when it hurts. Amen.

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