Post by Les Brewer on Dec 16, 2022 20:01:49 GMT
SURVIVING THE HOUR OF TEST!!!
And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
— Ruth 1:14
The hour of test for every believer is a critical time and moment, where you have options of doing what appeals and pleases you than cleaving to the Lord. Our perfect example, Jesus Christ came to His hour of test in the garden of Gethsemane where He was faced with the option either to do the Will of the Father or His own will, but glory to God in the highest! He did the Will of the Father, and I am a beneficiary of that decision and choice of doing the Father's Will on that day.
Believer in Christ Jesus, when the hour of test comes as it was for Ruth and Orpah on that day, what will be your fate? Both of them had an affection for Naomi, and therefore set out with her upon her return to the land of Judah. But the hour of test came; Naomi most unselfishly set before each of them the trials which awaited them, and bade them if they cared for ease and comfort to return to their Moabitish friends. At first both of them declared that they would cast in their lot with the Lord’s people; but upon still further consideration Orpah with much grief and a respectful kiss left her mother in law, and her people, and her God, and went back to her idolatrous friends, while Ruth with all her heart gave herself up to the God of her mother in law.
It is one thing to love the Lord and the ways of the Lord when all is fair, and quite another to cleave to them under all discouragements and difficulties.
The kiss of outward profession of loving the Lord is very cheap and easy, but the practical cleaving to the Lord, which must show itself in holy decision for truth and holiness, is not so small a matter.
How stands is the case with us, is our heart fixed upon Jesus, is the sacrifice bound with cords to the horns of the altar? Have we counted the cost, and are we solemnly ready to suffer all worldly loss for the Master’s sake? The cost of being His disciple, was spelled out clearly in Luke 14:25-27,33(GNT)
'Once when large crowds of people were going along with Jesus, he turned and said to them,
“Those who come to me cannot be my disciples unless they love me more than they love father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and themselves as well. Those who do not carry their own cross and come after me cannot be my disciples
In the same way,” concluded Jesus, “none of you can be my disciple unless you give up everything you have.
The cost of cleaving to the Lord make not look easy but the after gain will be an abundant recompense, for Egypt’s treasures are not to be compared with the glory to be revealed.
Orpah is heard of no more; when in glorious ease and idolatrous pleasure, her life melts into the gloom of death; but Ruth lives in history and in heaven, for grace has placed her in the noble line whence sprung the King of kings.
Blessed among women shall you be as a beloved mother, wife or sister who for Christ’s sake can renounce all of worldliness and the offers of the devil. Happy are you among men when as a father, husband and a brother who for Christ's sake reject all worldliness; but forgotten and worse than forgotten shall be those who in the hour of temptation do violence to conscience and turn back unto the world.
O that this moment we may not be content with the form of devotion, which may be no better than Orpah’s kiss, but may the Holy Spirit work in us a cleaving of our whole heart to our Lord Jesus now and always in Jesus Name!
Have a wonderful day and a blessed day!
God bless us all.
And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
— Ruth 1:14
The hour of test for every believer is a critical time and moment, where you have options of doing what appeals and pleases you than cleaving to the Lord. Our perfect example, Jesus Christ came to His hour of test in the garden of Gethsemane where He was faced with the option either to do the Will of the Father or His own will, but glory to God in the highest! He did the Will of the Father, and I am a beneficiary of that decision and choice of doing the Father's Will on that day.
Believer in Christ Jesus, when the hour of test comes as it was for Ruth and Orpah on that day, what will be your fate? Both of them had an affection for Naomi, and therefore set out with her upon her return to the land of Judah. But the hour of test came; Naomi most unselfishly set before each of them the trials which awaited them, and bade them if they cared for ease and comfort to return to their Moabitish friends. At first both of them declared that they would cast in their lot with the Lord’s people; but upon still further consideration Orpah with much grief and a respectful kiss left her mother in law, and her people, and her God, and went back to her idolatrous friends, while Ruth with all her heart gave herself up to the God of her mother in law.
It is one thing to love the Lord and the ways of the Lord when all is fair, and quite another to cleave to them under all discouragements and difficulties.
The kiss of outward profession of loving the Lord is very cheap and easy, but the practical cleaving to the Lord, which must show itself in holy decision for truth and holiness, is not so small a matter.
How stands is the case with us, is our heart fixed upon Jesus, is the sacrifice bound with cords to the horns of the altar? Have we counted the cost, and are we solemnly ready to suffer all worldly loss for the Master’s sake? The cost of being His disciple, was spelled out clearly in Luke 14:25-27,33(GNT)
'Once when large crowds of people were going along with Jesus, he turned and said to them,
“Those who come to me cannot be my disciples unless they love me more than they love father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and themselves as well. Those who do not carry their own cross and come after me cannot be my disciples
In the same way,” concluded Jesus, “none of you can be my disciple unless you give up everything you have.
The cost of cleaving to the Lord make not look easy but the after gain will be an abundant recompense, for Egypt’s treasures are not to be compared with the glory to be revealed.
Orpah is heard of no more; when in glorious ease and idolatrous pleasure, her life melts into the gloom of death; but Ruth lives in history and in heaven, for grace has placed her in the noble line whence sprung the King of kings.
Blessed among women shall you be as a beloved mother, wife or sister who for Christ’s sake can renounce all of worldliness and the offers of the devil. Happy are you among men when as a father, husband and a brother who for Christ's sake reject all worldliness; but forgotten and worse than forgotten shall be those who in the hour of temptation do violence to conscience and turn back unto the world.
O that this moment we may not be content with the form of devotion, which may be no better than Orpah’s kiss, but may the Holy Spirit work in us a cleaving of our whole heart to our Lord Jesus now and always in Jesus Name!
Have a wonderful day and a blessed day!
God bless us all.
