Unfortunately, not all love stories end with, "they lived happily ever after". One woman was married for only about ten years before her husband died. And, in those days, there was no Social Security pension or provision, so life as a widow was difficult. But, the story ultimately has the happiest of endings.

The story of Ruth is well-known to many. She was a Moabite woman married to a Jewish man until his death. Rather than choosing to live in her homeland after his death, her deep affection for her mother-in-law was strong motivation for Ruth to follow her (Naomi) back to her Jewish homeland. Her resolute stand and statement indicates much about her character: "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God." (Ruth 1:16).

How much Ruth knew about the One true God is unknown. No doubt she had learned something of Him in her ten years of marriage, but ultimately she saw something attractive and compelling concerning Him in her mother-in-law. And this set her on the road (literally) to a future marriage, and ultimately placed her in the genealogy of Jesus.

Perhaps the great lesson here in the short story of Ruth is the potential impact on someone else as we exhibit the character of God in our lives. Ruth's destiny was largely determined by the example of godly character; such that she would determine that "Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God."

What an awesome privilege to influence someone to make the people of God their people, and the One true God their God! And such opportunities abound for each of us daily. We may never know just how closely others are looking at our lives, and finding our faith attractive.

May the powerful presence of the Father in your life be magnetically attractive to all you encounter today.

Steve

© 2011, Steve Taylor