DAY 96 Read the book of Ruth.
Today's reading gives us a charming story of old-fashioned love. These ancient loyalties and customs have solid value for our sophisticated society. The exact date for this story is unknown, but it probably occurred about halfway through the time of the judges.
Memory gem: "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord" (Proverbs 18:22).
Thought for today:
Young people should have an ideal, and it should be a high ideal. An ideal concerning the man whom she would like to have as her husband or sweetheart should be set up in the heart of every young woman. Boys, in your mind's eye, you should have an ideal of the girl who is to be the woman of your choice, who is to have your supreme affection, and who, someday, is to carry your name. And you should see that that ideal is kept before you.
You say: "I want to meet that true ideal." She may not be in your school or in your life right now, but if you will be faithful, just as surely as God is love, He will certainly bring it to pass.
But, you say: "I have made my decision, but sometimes I wonder if I made the right choice for my ideal?" Well listen, friend, here is a great and comforting thing: God can give you a new heart and can give the one you have chosen a new heart. God can make a previous union ideal--by His creative power.
There are six marks of love, and you can surely know whether you have found your true love or not. It is sometimes very difficult to distinguish, but here are some sure marks:
First--an intense longing to do something for the one loved, and to give something without thought of return.
Second--love is utterly forgetful of self.
Third--a willingness to sacrifice without any return--real sacrifice. (This is the highest stage of the second.)
Fourth--love plays the part of the surgeon. Real love will take the knife and cut in deep to help the one it loves.
Fifth--real love longs for fellowship--spiritual as well as physical--with the object of its love.
Sixth--true love makes us want to be near the one loved. And this love will not vary with circumstances--not if God is in it.
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Difficult or obscure words:
Ruth 2:2. "Corn"--grain, in this case, barley.
Ruth 2:8. "Daughter"--a respectful term used by an older person for a young woman--not necessarily a literal daughter.
Ruth 2:14. "Left"--that is, she had some left over after she had eaten.
Ruth 3:7. "Merry"--better: had a happy sense of well-being. There is no inference of intoxication.
Ruth 3:8. "Afraid"--startled.
Ruth 3:9. The Jewish Talmud explains Ruth's action as a proper proposal for marriage, a custom retained by some Arab tribes until modern times.
Ruth 4:3. "Brother"--better kinsman.
Ruth 4:8. "Drew off his shoes"--The other kinsman took off his own shoe and handed it to Boaz as a legal release of all right to Elimelech's property--including Ruth.
Today's reading gives us a charming story of old-fashioned love. These ancient loyalties and customs have solid value for our sophisticated society. The exact date for this story is unknown, but it probably occurred about halfway through the time of the judges.
Memory gem: "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord" (Proverbs 18:22).
Thought for today:
Young people should have an ideal, and it should be a high ideal. An ideal concerning the man whom she would like to have as her husband or sweetheart should be set up in the heart of every young woman. Boys, in your mind's eye, you should have an ideal of the girl who is to be the woman of your choice, who is to have your supreme affection, and who, someday, is to carry your name. And you should see that that ideal is kept before you.
You say: "I want to meet that true ideal." She may not be in your school or in your life right now, but if you will be faithful, just as surely as God is love, He will certainly bring it to pass.
But, you say: "I have made my decision, but sometimes I wonder if I made the right choice for my ideal?" Well listen, friend, here is a great and comforting thing: God can give you a new heart and can give the one you have chosen a new heart. God can make a previous union ideal--by His creative power.
There are six marks of love, and you can surely know whether you have found your true love or not. It is sometimes very difficult to distinguish, but here are some sure marks:
First--an intense longing to do something for the one loved, and to give something without thought of return.
Second--love is utterly forgetful of self.
Third--a willingness to sacrifice without any return--real sacrifice. (This is the highest stage of the second.)
Fourth--love plays the part of the surgeon. Real love will take the knife and cut in deep to help the one it loves.
Fifth--real love longs for fellowship--spiritual as well as physical--with the object of its love.
Sixth--true love makes us want to be near the one loved. And this love will not vary with circumstances--not if God is in it.
-----------------
Difficult or obscure words:
Ruth 2:2. "Corn"--grain, in this case, barley.
Ruth 2:8. "Daughter"--a respectful term used by an older person for a young woman--not necessarily a literal daughter.
Ruth 2:14. "Left"--that is, she had some left over after she had eaten.
Ruth 3:7. "Merry"--better: had a happy sense of well-being. There is no inference of intoxication.
Ruth 3:8. "Afraid"--startled.
Ruth 3:9. The Jewish Talmud explains Ruth's action as a proper proposal for marriage, a custom retained by some Arab tribes until modern times.
Ruth 4:3. "Brother"--better kinsman.
Ruth 4:8. "Drew off his shoes"--The other kinsman took off his own shoe and handed it to Boaz as a legal release of all right to Elimelech's property--including Ruth.
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