Ruth 1:1-7
There is a question that has troubled my mind for years over this passage: Why did all this tragedy happen to this family?
Is it wrong to seek greener pasture?
Is it wrong to leave a place because of problem?
I’ve asked everyone that cared to listen to me, and they all don’t seem to have answers.
3 Things you need to know:
a. Bad things do happen
Cf. The question of evil: This is not God’s world.
b. Bad things do happen to Good people
Cf. David Wilkerson’s road accident: The Cross and the Switchblade: the story of Nicky Cruz
But here is the good news, and that is what the story of this family is teaching us:
c. God doesn’t end on a bad note
Yes, it happens, but it is not the end. God always end on a positive note.
There can be recovery after a loss.
There’s life after death.
You can have a comeback!
No matter what: Head or tail, you win!
Here is my burden this morning: How do you recover from loss?
Journey to Recovery
1. Vs. 6a: when She Heard …
What are you hearing?
Cf. Elijah: I can hear the sound of abundance of rain.
Can you hear good news in a bad situation?
Can you see the light in the midst of darkness?
Isaiah 60:1-2;
Rom 4:18-23
18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."d 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead — since he was about a hundred years old — and that Sarah's womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness."
Cf. Rom. 8:28; 8:29-31
Micah 7:8; Job 14:14
… she heard that God is a good God.
She heard that God never abandons his own.
Ps. 34:4-6; 19
She heard that there is life even after loss.
… she heard. What are you hearing?
Kirk Franklin: I Know that I can make it
2. She Prepared
Do you believe God will bring His word to pass in your life? Then, start preparing for it. When you’re not preparing it means you’re not expecting.
Cf. Mark 16:1-7; Do you expect God to keep His word to you? Then, start preparing.
Luck is what happened when opportunities meet with preparation.
The greatest disaster in life is not to be ready when opportunity comes.
2 Chron. 12:14; Ezra 7:10
3. She Set Out
She made a move. Eccl. 9:10
She was not waiting for a miracle. She decided to do something.
When you make a move, God will create a room.
When you take a step, God will back you up.
2 Kings 7:3
Matt. 6:26. They don’t sow nor gather into barns but they don’t stay in their net also. They go out.
They come to your house. They seek and knock
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