Ruth 1:19-22

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19 Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, “Is this Naomi?” 20 But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?” 22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. ~ Ruth 1:19-22

Today, we return to our study of the book of Ruth which is a story for people who get to that place in life where we wonder where God is when our world fall apart. This little four chaptered book is for those who wonder where God is when one tragedy after another meanders into our lives. It's a story for people who wonder whether a life of integrity in tough times is worth it. And it's a story for people who can't imagine that anything great could ever come out of our broken lives.

In v.19 of today's passage we read, "Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, 'Is this Naomi?'"

The journey from Moab to Bethlehem for Naomi and Ruth was about 50 miles in distance. It was not an easy trip in a land which is hilly, rocky, and very hot. Their trip included crossing over the Arnon river and the Jordan river. Naomi and Ruth had to carry whatever they owned including the water they needed to drink while on their journey. This was not an easy trip. In fact, with carrying their things, stopping for rest and sleep and the like, it probably took them a minimum of two days. 

Upon their arrival to Bethlehem, all the city was excited. The women of the town were astonished at the person they once knew. More than 10 years had passed when Naomi had left with her husband and sons for Moab. Then she was a much younger woman. Now, she returned looking older, more worn down from the sadness and the years that had passed. The second law of thermodynamics had taken its toll on Noami both physically and spiritually.

In v.20-21 of today's passage we read, "20 But she said to them, 'Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?'"

Here, we get a glimpse of Naomi's inner state when she told the women of Bethlehem not to call her Naomi which means "pleasant." When God defined Naomi, she was pleasant and beautiful and sweet. This is why we must be ardent in seeking the Lord on a daily basis through our study of the Scriptures and prayer. His definition of our lives is the best and yields the best results. Of course, we must be careful that these two spiritual practices are not just boxes we check off on our to do list for the day. Those who read the Bible and pray as a religious exercise miss the point. Those who see the Bible as a pane of glass that enables us to see God more clearly understand what our relationship with God is all about. It's about knowing Him and making Him known.

The late Mike Yaconelli said it well when he wrote, "Spirituality is not a formula; it is not a test. It is a relationship. Spirituality is not about competency; it is about intimacy. Spirituality is not about perfection; it is about connection. The way of the spiritual life begins where we are now in the mess of our lives."

In hearing her given name repeated time and again as she encountered the people of Bethlehem, Naomi could only think that it was no longer appropriate. In her mind, the covenant God of Israel, was distant from her and she felt the pain of it each time her name was repeated. And so, she thought a change to reflect her sad condition was needed. Interestingly, the name she chose is not the normal Hebrew form of the word. It is lacking the letter "h" at the end of the name which is the same letter that was added to Abraham and Sarah’s names as a sign of God's covenant grace. It was as if she were an outsider to the Lord and His covenant provision, wallowing alone in her bitterness.

Being defined by God shows up in our lives by how we respond to Him and how we choose to live our lives. When we choose to believe that He is gracious and we can not out-sin His grace, it is then that we are being defined by Him. We must be very careful to not even depend upon one ounce of our good behavior to define us because when we do that, we will become very discouraged and jaded. But, Naomi was not in the moment being defined by God and she became bitter.

Naomi requested that her old girlfriends reference her as "bitter" for she was quite defined by her bitterness. Four times in context did Naomi refer to God. She was bitter at God because she thought He was bitter toward her. I find it interesting that when pain comes into our lives, we blame no one but God. We do this because we know that God is the only one who could have prevented our pain. Ever notice no one curses any of the names of the gods of Hinduism or any other religion when life goes south on them? 

While attributing her affliction to the Lord, Naomi implied that God was evil or wicked. This is what sin does to us; it distorts our understanding of God. It leads us to conclude that He is the opposite of what He really is. Instead of ascribing the evils that come our way to God, it is right that we humble ourselves and choose to trust Him with the outcomes of the trouble in our lives. In the midst of our afflictions, it is most important how we choose to respond. Above all, we are to never ascribe evil to the Lord. It is we humans who chose the path we are on and it is the Lord God who sent His Son to correct it.

Naomi failed to see that the kindness of the Lord was just around the corner. Thinking she was the object of God’s wrath, she misinterpreted the sad and troublesome hardships she had faced. What seemed at the time to be harsh and cruel was in due time to be replaced with joy and comfort. But even more, the troubles she faced had served a larger purpose as her life has been used to show the greater, and often unseen, hand of God as He unfolds history in a way which displays His sovereignty and His kind heart toward mankind. 

In v.22 of today's passage we read, "So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest."

The reaping of the  barley historically took place during the month of Abib which happened at the time of our March/April. It commences during the Feast of Unleavend Bread when the first-fruits of the harvest are cut and presented to the Lord, a picture of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was at that same time of year when the Lord Jesus was crucified and then rose from the dead. 

The first obvious indication of God's blessing here was the barley harvest. Even though, at that time, barley was the least expensive of the grains, when we can see the sovereign hand in the least of these, we will better see His hand in the greatest of these. It is obvious that one of the main lessons here is discovered when we conclude that God is good even in the lean moments of life. Of course, once we get to that spot we will find it much easier to conclude He is good in the times of plenty.

Ruth 1:15-18

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15 And she said, "Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law." 16 But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you;  For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me." 18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her. ~ Ruth 1:15-18

Today, we return to the Old Testament book of Ruth where we are beginning to see the unfolding of a love story between a man and a woman. This love story is a human metaphor for the story of redemption initiated by the God of the Bible through His Son's death on the cross. But, the purpose of this book of Ruth is to provide a demonstration of how a foreigner became the great-grandmother of Israel’s most famous king. King David had a godless Moabite on a branch of his family tree. How could a foreigner, an idol worshiper, become this famous king’s ancestor? This book seeks to answer that question. 

In v.15-17 of today's passage we read, "15 And she said, 'Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.' 16 But Ruth said: 'Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you;  For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.'"

Quite a number of years ago now, an author by the name of Robert Frost, penned a poem entitled, “The Road Not Taken.” It’s a poem that tells the story of a man, who, upon walking through the woods, comes to a fork in the road. It is a place of decision; a place of no return, a choice must be made for he cannot journey down both paths. Whichever road he chooses will lead him to new pathways, and new choices, and he will never stand again where he stands this day. Life is like that, isn’t it? So often we come to a fork in the road, a place where we must choose one path over another, knowing full well that whatever choices we make, will have repercussions, good or bad, or some of both, that spill over into the rest of our lives. 

At a certain point in Frost's poem the man begins his journey down the road that fewer feet had traveled. And he sums up his decision with these words in the concluding verses of the poem, saying: “I shall be telling this with a sigh somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled, and that has made all the difference.” 

These words apply to this daughter-in-law committing herself to her mother-in-law. In New Testament terms, this is Ruth’s conversion. She not only committed herself to Naomi but also to Naomi’s God. Her commitment was personal, voluntary, and complete. After saying these words, she could never go back to Moab. Ruth made a commitment to Naomi because she had entered into a personal relationship with the God of the Bible. 

I found it most difficult to pull myself away from sin in order to enter into a personal relationship with God way back in October of 1981. The death of my dad aided my decision. You see, it wasn't until I began to think of what is really important in this life that I was poised to make my decision to follow the Lord. By the way, no amount of good behavior on my behalf made me right with the Lord; that is why the Lord Jesus died on the cross. I knew that if I didn't make a clean break from the lifestyle I had garnered apart from God, I would be frustrated in my attempt to know God for myself, and that is what was made clear to me that life is really about knowing our Creator for ourselves and finding ways to make Him known to those who are trapped in a life apart from knowing God.

In Deuteronomy 23 God said, "No Ammonite or Moabite shall enter the assembly of the Lord. None of their descendants, even to the tenth generation, shall ever enter the assembly of the Lord." This curse was that none of the Moabites would ever be allowed to come inside the covenant through the tenth generation from when the curse was issued. Interestingly enough, scholars have calculated that Ruth was a member of the eleventh generation. But, the Moabite people had been, by God, shut out from redemption because of their sin.

In Isaiah 56:6-7 which was written much later than Deuteronomy 23, we read, "6 Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants, everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant 7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations."

The curse was only in place until the foreigner and the cursed person turned to God in faith. When Ruth said, "Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you;  For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God," she revealed that she had entered into a personal relationship with the God of Naomi, the God of the Bible. The fascinating part of this story is that Ruth was an eleventh generation Moabite. Oh, the sovereignty of our God. He knows all from the beginning to the end and we can thoroughly trust Him with our lives and the lives of those whom we love.

In v.18 of today's passage we read, "When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her."

Naomi had nothing to offer to Ruth and neither of them knew what the future held for them. The road less travelled is like that, filled with the unknown, yet Ruth decided to follow Naomi just the same. And, when Naomi saw that Ruth the Moabite had more faith than Naomi the Jew, she stopped exploring her to return to Moab. How striking that this amazing commitment comes not from an insider but an outsider. I find the faith of Ruth to be incredible. Her commitment to Naomi goes beyond time and place and ethnic background. She who knew so little understands God’s heart more than Naomi who knew so much more. With Ruth's statement, she binds herself to Naomi forever, which was why Naomi was left completely speechless.

Ruth's decision was a complete break with her past. She left behind everything she has ever known, family, friends, familiarity, and she threw herself into the unknown. What an amazing picture of repentance and of faith! A picture of repentance, because it was a complete break from her life with self at the helm. A picture of faith, because Ruth was flinging herself into the arms of her Heavenly Father. Long before Ruth could through herself into the arms of her Kinsman Redeemer as we will see, she had to throw herself into the arms of her Savior.

Ruth 1:11-14

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11 But Naomi said, “Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Return, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I said I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight and also bear sons, 13 would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is harder for me than for you, for the hand of the Lord has gone forth against me.” 14 And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. ~ Ruth 1:11-14

Today, we return to our study of the book of Ruth. One of the great themes of Ruth is that of redemption. I believe it was Augustine who once said, "The Old Testament is in the New Testament, explained, and, the New Testament is hinted at in the Old Testament. Throughout the Old Testament are shadows, and types, and prophecies. So, the New Testament is contained in the Old Testament." the Bible is all about the redemption of man by a loving God who laid down His life for His friends.

In v.11-13 of today's passage we read, "11 But Naomi said, 'Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Return, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I said I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight and also bear sons, 13 would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is harder for me than for you, for the hand of the Lord has gone forth against me.'"

As they started out along the road and got further from Moab, Orpah kept dragging behind. When Naomi saw that Orpah's heart was really not in the journey, she kissed both daughters-in-law and gave them permission to return to their homeland. With the multiple usage of the word "return" is an incredible contrast introduced. The contrast is simple and yet the results are eternally impactful. 

When Naomi started her journey back to Bethlehem, she was traveling from east to west, reversing the journey she and her husband had taken ten years earlier. In addition, Naomi was also turning her life around in a spiritual sense. After living in a pagan land for a decade, she now made the decision to return to her own people and to the God of the Bible. It’s a journey both literal and spiritual, in which a bruised believer makes the long journey home. 

I have discovered this is a daily reality in my life. The daily reality of returning to the Lord is a must for us all because this world quite easily desires to harden our hearts toward the Lord and His ways. Therefore, it is a good idea to make it our habit at the end of each day to do inventory of our hearts. Since we have been forgiven of all of our sin, we need not confess our sins each day to God for forgiveness. 

It is a great habit to confess our sins to God daily so that our hearts are not hardened toward Him. In Psalm 139, King David wrote, "Search me O God, and know my heart…see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." This explains God's description of sinful King David as a man after God's own heart. Confession to God is a must in order to have a heart for God.

When we get to the New Testament, we have the explanation of the Old Testament. When we read the New Testament, all that Old Testament stuff makes sense. The Lord Jesus is all throughout the Old Testament. He unlocks the key to so much of that which is in the Old Testament. And, He explains it all. I find Naomi's response at the end of v.13 rather interesting. She said, "...the hand of the Lord has gone forth against me." From her Old Testament vantage point, it takes sense that she thought the way she did. But, the Lord Jesus removed all of the enmity created by our sin. We should not look at it as "the hand of the Lord is against me." Knowing that our sin, past, present and future has been forgiven, we now look at the negatives in life differently. We now must look at it as opportunities for God to instill His culture into our souls.

I find it most instructive that the book of Ruth opens up with a choice-- actually, several choices-- one choice that leads to another choice that leads to another. And one thing all of us eventually come to grips with is how precious and how precarious our choices can be. One little dynamic, one little choice can be a hinge of so much. 

These two daughters-in-law had a choice here. And Naomi knew the prejudice of her people toward a cursed people like the Moabites. As afore mentioned, the Moabites were cursed because Moab was the result of incest. Naomi knew that if her daughters-in-law were to come with her back to Bethlehem, it was going to be very hard for them. This is why Naomi told the young ladies to go back to their homes in Moab. 

In v.14 of today's passage we read, "And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her."

Orpah gave Naomi, her mother-in-law, a goodbye kiss and she walked off the pages of history. She is never mentioned again in the Scriptures. But, "Ruth clung to Naomi." The word "clung" here is the same word used in Genesis 2:24 when speaking of the relationship between the man and his wife. It is also the same word used in Psalm 63 to describe the person who was absolutely determined to follow the Lord. The implication here is that Ruth wanted to follow the true and living God, the God of Naomi.  

In the end, there are only one of two directions we can go. One is toward the face of God which is seen in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, or we can turn back and go in the opposite direction. The first leads to eternal life, the latter leads to eternal separation. The choice belongs to each of us, and we must  choose wisely.

Ruth 1:6-10

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6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had visited His people by giving them bread. 7 Therefore she went out from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each to her mother’s house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband. 10 And they said to her, “Surely we will return with you to your people.” ~ Ruth 1:6-10

Today, we return to our study of the Old Testament book of Ruth where we see the unfolding of a true story that points us ultimately, as all biblical books do, to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. It is He that is the fulfillment of all of the Scriptures, as well as all of the longings of our hearts. And yet, as I am discovering, the Lord Jesus does not fulfill the longings of my heart in the ways that I expect. The freedom we need, He says, is not from that which we expect like those who treat us wrongly. No, the freedom we long for is to discover our identity in our personal relationship with Him. This is the theme of this book.

The restoration of God's practical holiness takes a long time for God to instill in the soul of the believer in Christ. As we learn to trust Him more and more this process takes place. And, the more we give our hearts to Him, we will learn of His heart for us. Of course, the positional holiness that we have in Christ has been fully applied to our account because Christ died once and all for the forgiveness of our sin. Our security and significance increases only out of a growing intimacy with our Maker. He is the One who inculcates His transcendent presence in our souls as we go belly up with Him. 

In v.6-7 of today's passage we read, "6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had visited His people by giving them bread. 7 Therefore she went out from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah."

As the story of Ruth unfolds, we notice that Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law has survived the passing of her husband and her two sons. And now, Naomi has received word that the famine has ended in her home town of Bethlehem and she has made preparations to return home. This is what we do when the ugliness of this life shatters our dreams and leaves us with a broken heart. Naomi's decision reveals that she knew that God knew what He was doing even when she did not. Naomi, like us, was not given an idea in advance of what would happen in her future. This is true for all of us. We all must take life as it comes to us, one day at a time, all the while trusting the Lord with the outcomes.

Naomi was a brokenhearted believer in the God of the Bible due to the deaths of her loved ones. Broken-heartedness was a must in the process of me coming to the Lord. I find that it is often necessary in my walk with the Lord. In fact, it is very often that my brokenheartedness is what leads me back to the Lord. Due to her broken heart, Naomi not only returned home, she also returned to the Lord. She experienced bitterness toward the Lord, as we will see, but at least she had not totally turned away from Him. If we callously think Naomi got what was coming to her, we would then reveal how little we understand of God’s heart. He is the God who is rich in grace, and his pockets are deep and full of mercy and grace.

This is when the heart of the story of Ruth really begins with three widows in the land of Moab. It is our pain that enables God the opportunity to seep into our lives through the cracks created by our pain. We read that Naomi decided to return to her home in Bethlehem in Judah, and, her two daughters-in-law were determined to accompany her back to her homeland. 

In v.8-10 of today's passage we read, "8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each to her mother’s house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband. 10 And they said to her, 'Surely we will return with you to your people.'"

Both Orpah and Ruth intended to go to Bethlehem and start over in a new land with their mother-in-law. But Naomi warned them to think hard about what that would mean. When Naomi urged the two young ladies to go back home, she expressed a wish that the Lord might "deal kindly with them." The Hebrew word Naomi used for God's kindness is "chesed," which means "loyal covenant love." This is the Old Testament version of the grace of God. 

Undoubtedly, on the heels of losing her husband and two sons, Naomi had her struggles, but, we are not told of them. One thing is for sure that God had not given up on Naomi. When our pains make us retreat from God, He does not retreat from us. By nature, He is love and He is committed to all who trust in Him. God's promise that "I will never leave you nor forsake you" is found in multiple books of the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments. With this promise, we can be assured that He is always with us because this promise has been procured by His Son's death on the cross.

Naomi was quite unaware that God had big plans for her life which were about to unfold. Little did she know that one day she would hold a baby in her lap who would be the grandfather of King David. Still less could she imagine that her daughter-in-law, Ruth, would end up in the line of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ? The same is true for you and me; God has big plans for our lives and we can not know in advance what those plans are. In fact, those plans are only accessed as we trust Him, and through our trust, we choose to daily follow Him.

Ruth 1:1-5

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1 Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. 3 Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4 Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. 5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband. ~ Ruth 1:1-5

Today, we begin a study of the book of Ruth which is a love story that starts with misery and ends with joy. This true story includes anxiety, fear, love, and commitment that inflames the imagination and soothes the soul. It begins with despair and ends with delight. This book of four chapters and only 85 verses covers a vast range of human emotions, starting with heartache, then moving to intrigue, then romance, then happiness. Along the way we discover "God behind the scenes," which means the real star of the book is the Lord Jesus who works in, through, and sometimes in spite of the decisions we make.

There are only two books of the Bible named for women, Ruth and Esther. Ruth is the only book in the Bible named after one of the Lord Jesus’ ancestors. Ruth is the only Old Testament book named after a gentile and Luke is its New Testament counterpart. Ruth was written during the time of King David’s reign in Israel, which would’ve been about 1,000 B.C. but it happened during the time of the Judges about a hundred years earlier.

In v.1 of today's passage we read, "Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons."

The book of Ruth opens with a note that anchors this story to a particular time and place: "During the time of the judges, there was a famine in the land." This means the story took place after Joshua’s death and before Saul became king. It was a time when the people largely forgot the Lord and did what was right in their own eyes. The problem with this is our default mode is sin or that which is contrary to the definitions of God. 

When we read the book of Judges, we may be tempted to think it was a godless time, but that would not be entirely correct. We should think of it as a time when every man did what was right in his own eyes which is the final verse in the book of Judges. As long as the judges ruled, the people served the Lord. But when a judge died, the Jews returned to idolatry. It was a recurring cycle of obedience, disobedience, judgment, suffering, desperation, and returning to the Lord.

Elimelech and his wife and two sons lived in Bethlehem which means "House of bread." The land around Bethlehem was some of the most fertile ground in the Promised Land. In fact, it was often referred to as "the bread basket." So, when the famine hit that area, it was a particularly hard time on the people. As with all trials, God's design is to use the discomforting times to turn us back to Him. Elimelech made the decision to move his family to Moab because it was a land of good soil and adequate rainfall. 

In v.2 of today's passage we read, "The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. "

I find it instructive that Elimelech's name means "My God is King." The names of most of the characters in the book of Ruth have an important role to play in conveying the main message of the story. Probably the two most significant names in the book are the one that is mentioned first and the one that is mentioned last. The first name in the book is Elimelech and the last name is David and in the Hebrew text David is the final word. Both names convey the idea of Kingship. Elimelech’s name was very appropriate in the time of the Judges, it means "My God is King." This name is an indication of the faith that still burned in many Israelite hearts that in spite of the disastrous period of the Judges, God was still in charge and he was their King. However, the last name in the book, David, showed that God was raising up a leader for His people who would exercise leadership under God’s authority. God was providing a king who would honor him and lead the people to blessing.

Elimelech's family lived in the region of Ephrathah where the town of Bethlehem's located to this day. Bethlehem Ephrathah is the town that is recorded in Micah 5:2 would be the birthplace of the Messiah. Of course, in the gospels we learn that Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem Ephrathah in order to pay their taxes that were ordered at the time. In traveling back to Bethlehem Ephrathah and giving birth to their firstborn child, they fulfilled the prophecy spoken by the prophet Micah hundreds of years before. 

Moab originated with Lot’s incestuous relationship with his daughter. Elimelech left the land of blessing to live among the pagans on the east side of the Dead Sea. He and his family would be exposed to the Moabite religion with its degrading idol worship and its gross sexual perversion. Elimelech understood the risk of living among the Moabites but considered this move a temporary move for the sake of his family.

In v.3 of today's passage we read, "Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons."

Elimelech lost his life while seeking a livelihood, and found a grave where he had sought a home. The death of her husband left Naomi with a longing in her heart. Sometimes God allows things to happen in our lives or causes them to happen in order to position us to the place of His blessing.

I remember the day God started moving my heart to attend Columbia Bible College in Columbia, South Carolina. I did not want to attend CBC because of those whom I had met who had gone there were quite different than I was at that time. Needless to say, I obeyed the Lord and enrolled. The first two years were quite difficult. Then, my junior year came around and two weeks into that most wonderful year the Lord introduced the girl who became my wife just two years later. I look back on that and I am reminded that it is best to obey the Lord even when we do not understand or desire to do what He wants.

In v.4-5 of today's passage we read, "4 Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. 5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband."

The famine in Bethlehem was now a distant memory. But soon after the family moved to Moab Elimelech died, leaving Naomi without a husband and the two sons without a father. We know tragedy as something that should have never happened. But, when we give God time and we trust Him, we will eventually see His genius even in the things that were most painful. For me the death of my mom when I was five years old and the death of my dad when I was seventeen years old positioned me to go from hopelessness to a personal relationship with my creator.

Well, as noted in v.5, eventually the two sons married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other named Ruth. After ten years of marital bliss, the two sons died and were buried in Moab. Suddenly ten years had passed and the longing in the heart of Naomi to return home came knocking. The scriptures remind us to "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." This does not means that God will give us whatever we ask of Him. It does mean that when we give our heart to God He will give His to us, resulting in it being natural that we ask God for His will to be done in our lives.

1 Peter 5:12-14

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12 With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. 13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ. ~ 1 Peter 5:12-14

Today, we come to the closing verses in the book of 1 Peter. This epistle, full of principles on how to maintain our hope in a world of suffering, was written by a man who fought the battles himself. Peter had no idea at the time that he was walking with the Lord Jesus that he was being prepared to write such a practical guide that would aid millions. This is the nature of our walk with the Lord. More of Him and less of me.

Peter was an eyewitness to the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was there all during His ministry; he saw firsthand the transfiguration, stumbled at the crucifixion, and was restored at the resurrection. He beheld the ascension and participated in the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Peter sat with the elders of the early church and continued his witness of the work of Jesus Christ throughout his life. This letter, along with the other 65 books of the Bible, testifies to the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the focus of Scripture and we are to keep our attention directed upon Him alone. 

In v.12 of today's passage we read, "With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it."

Silas who was Paul's companion during his missionary trips has now become Peter's companion. And, due to the fact that Peter did not have a formal education, Silas was helpful to Peter for writing his epistles. Here is discovered a tapestry that all of our lives have, proof that the Lord is in the middle of everything that happens in, to, through and around us.

It is the grace of God that declares the believer in Christ forgiven and acceptable before God. Nothing is earned or maintained with reference to our acceptance before God. Our perfect posture before God was procured by the Lord Jesus Himself. His grace rescued us from our spiritual blindness. It releases us from our bondage to this fallen world. God's grace gives us the faith to be utterly assured of what we cannot see. It frees us from refusing to believe in anything we cannot experience with our physical senses. God's grace connects us to the invisible One in an eternal love relationship that fills us with joy we have never known before and gives us rest of heart that we would have thought impossible. 

Peter encourages us to stand firm in this unmerited favor of God. Since there is nothing more powerful in this world than the grace of God, we must not move beyond its influence. In fact, we must be diligent to wallow in it. It is only the grace of God that acknowledges the ugliness of our sin and chooses to do the unthinkable to solve it. God, the Father, did this by sending His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to die in our place on the cross of Calvary. 

In v.13 of today's passage we read, "She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark."

Peter used the name Babylon metaphorically for Rome. As we have pointed out before, the Apostle Peter wrote this epistle from Rome at the end of his life. Most commentators believe that in the book of the Revelation the Apostle John used Babylon as a code name for the Rome of John’s day. Like Babylon of old, Rome had gained a worldwide reputation for luxury, corruption, and power. Peter used Babylon instead of Rome in order to disguise his whereabout because he was in danger of being discovered and apprehended by the Romans.

Then Peter mentions Mark who was the young man who had abandoned Paul on his first missionary journey. This is yet again another picture of grace in action. In mentioning Mark, Peter closes this, his first epistle with not only the reason why we have a relationship with God, but also how we relate to one another after we have entered into a personal relationship with God. Whereas the Apostle Paul had given up on Mark, Barnabas nursed Mark back to the place of usefulness to God. It was the active nature of God's grace in the life of Barnabas and eventually the others that got Mark back to a posture of victory.

In v.14 of today's passage we read, "Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ."

In this the final verse of this epistle Peter closes it out with the same sentiment that Paul used four times in his epistles: "Greet one another with a kiss of love." This was, and still is, the custom in many parts of the world. The kiss was intended as a greeting, just as western nations today shake hands or possibly hug, depending on familiarity. In the Far East, a deep and respectful bow is given in substitute of this.

The first kiss in the Bible is found in Genesis 27:26 when Isaac blessed his son Jacob before he departed to Padan Aram. From that point, the kiss is seen among the covenant people of God and among those who aren’t yet in the covenant, thus demonstrating the cultural nature of the greeting. When Jacob met Rachel, without knowing her in any familiar way yet, he kissed her. 

The premier example of this greeting is found in Luke 7 where the Lord Jesus said to the religious leaders, "You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil."

After this note of fraternal affection, Peter next says, "Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus." To a Jew, the word "peace" is deeper than what we may think of it today. In biblical days it involved an entire state of contentment and calm. Thus, Peter’s words are a petition for wholeness and blessing, leading to what one might call a "fully satisfied soul." He then finishes with, "Amen," which means "so be it." And for all who read his letter of five chapters and 105 verses, may it be so that God's peace rules our lives. Amen!

1 Peter 5:10-11

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10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. ~ 1 Peter 5:10-11

Today, we continue our study of 1 Peter 5 where the Apostle Peter has been helping us to view our sufferings from the context of eternity. Our suffering is a part of God's curriculum to mature us in the faith. Having walked with the Lord Jesus, the believer in Christ knows the truth of Romans 8:28, "That all things work together for good to those who are called to God according to his purpose."

In v.10 of today's passage we read, "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."

In this verse, Peter draws our attention to the fact that it is the grace of God that enables us to enter into a personal relationship with Him through the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. In John 1 we read, "The law came by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." Under the law of Moses, God demands righteousness from man. Under His grace, God gives righteousness to man. Under the law, righteousness is based on our good works; under grace, it's based on His finished work on the cross. Under the law, it only takes one sin to make us sinners; under grace, it only takes one Savior to fix it all. So to put it in its simplest form: grace is how God deals with you. It's not based on what you deserve, it's based on what the Lord Jesus did on the cross. 

In 1 Corinthians 5:21 we read, "God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him." In other words, God treated the Lord Jesus Christ like we deserve to be treated, so He could treat us like the Lord Jesus deserves to be treated. That is the covenant of grace. We must know for ourselves God's grace to make it to the finish line. We are saved and secured by God's grace alone. 

The second part of v.10 reads, "...who called you to his eternal glory in Christ." Here, the Apostle turns our attention to the call of God upon our lives. God's purpose for our lives goes beyond the grace-filled life and it includes eternal life. When the Lord Jesus prayed that private prayer to His Father in John 17, He said, "Father, I want all those that you have given me to be with me where I am, that they may see my glory." One day, and perhaps real soon, our Father in heaven will answer that prayer when He takes us to be with Him in His glory. 

Next, in v.10, Peter writes, "...after you have suffered a little while." This suggests that there is light at the end of the tunnel in the process of suffering. In 2 Corinthians 4, we read, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though we are wasting away outwardly, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. And so we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporal, what is unseen is eternal." 

The point here s that we are to live this life looking forward to what's beyond life. C. S. Lewis said, "Christians who do the most for this present world are those who think most of the next. Aim at heaven and you'll get earth 'thrown in': aim at earth and you'll get neither." 

The last phrase in v.10 reads, "...will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." In this one portion of the verse, we are reminded of those things that God has done on our behalf for eternity through the person of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The first is "He restores us" which literally means "to repair or mend a net," or "to set back in place a broken bone."  When God mends our brokenness we will know the gift of holiness. This mending brings us to the place of being defined more by God and this is where we begin to grasp our wholeness or completeness in Christ.

The second is that "God makes us strong" which literally means "to be as firm as granite or steel." Through our suffering we are solidified and toughened, like fired and tempered steel. We need this type of tempered disposition in order to withstand this world's attacks upon us.

The third is that "God makes us firm" which literally, we will be "filled with bodily strength." It's like bodily discipline through exercise which toughens up a flabby body, replacing fat with muscle. That's what God's doing to and for us through our suffering. 

The final thing the Lord did for us is He made it possible for "God makes us steadfast" which literally means "to provide a foundation for a building." Here, Peter uses an architectural term which pictures the believer in Christ running to Him through his suffering. Our troubles have as their design to drive us to our foundation who is the Lord Jesus Himself. In suffering we figure out what is superficial in life, what is unnecessary, and we are driven to THE only One upon whom we can build our lives. 

In v.11 of today's passage we read, "To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen."

Through Peter's outburst of praise here, we discover a principle behind it; and that is, when this life is all over, and the trials that shape our lives are all over, and the sufferings that bring refinement is all over, and death is all over, and we are in glory, then, we will all look back and say that everything that God did and allowed was perfectly justified. The proper response of the restored, strong, firm, and steadfast believer in Christ will be to give all the blessings back to the blesser. The Lord Jesus will get the credit for any success that we enjoyed. Therefore, to Him let us yield our lives for His glory because in loves service, only the broken can serve.

1 Peter 5:8-9

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8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. ~ 1 Peter 5:8-9

Today, we return to our study of 1 Peter 5 where the Apostle Peter directs our attention to the real battle that over shadows all other battles that we as followers of Christ encounter. Since we tend to make mountains out of our mole hills, it is good to get an eternal perspective to our daily lives. It has been said that "Eighty percent of life is how we respond to the twenty percent that happens to us."

In v.8 of today's passage we read, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

Here, the devil is described as a roaring lion that prowls around seeking to devour the followers of the Lord Jesus. His posture reveals that he is limited and we must not allow him to become greater in our lives than he is. In fact, when we give in to him and his culture, we allow him greater status in our lives.

The word "devil" means one who attacks another by slander which is making a false verbal statement that damages someone’s reputation. It is a term that is used 35 times in Scripture. The devil is referred to as "Satan" 54 times in the Bible; another 5 times he is called "the evil one"; another 8 times he is called "the wicked one." He's also called "the destroyer," and "Lucifer." All of these names or titles reveal his true character and when we give in to him, we invite the very fires of hell into our existence.

In today's passage the devil is called the intimidating lion who wants to devour us. We would think this lion would sneak up on us instead of walking about and roaring. Contrary to his approach in the Garden of Eden when he was subtle and slithery, here he is a dangerous lion with a loud sound. He thinks that if he can intimidate us with his roar, we will think that he has the upper hand on us. This is not true, unless, like Adam in the Garden, we yield up the authority God has given us to battle him.

The word "devour" means to gulp down. The devil's ultimate goal is to see you and me burn in hell forever. In John 10 the Lord Jesus said, "The thief comes for no other reason except to steal, to kill, to destroy." Hell was not made for people; it was made "for the devil and his angels." But misery loves company and the devil wants to get as many people in hell with him, and he wants humanity to burn in hell forever. 

In v.9 of today's passage we read, "Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings."

Satan has access to the entire world geographically, but his focus of attack is on believers specifically. Three times the Lord Jesus referred to Satan as "the ruler of this world." Paul refers to him as the "god of this world" in 2 Corinthians 4.  

The hardest thing about suffering is not that it sneaks up on us, the hardest thing about suffering is that it can overwhelm our faith with fear and pain. And that's exactly what Satan wants to do in our lives through suffering. The devil, that roaring lion, wants to derail our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is exactly why Peter commands us to resist the lion. This means we must be careful to not give him a foothold in our lives by feeding the flesh. And the flesh shows up in our lives as complaining, hatred, discord, and envy just to name a few. When we are being defined by the flesh, we will lack faith that the God of the Bible is doing a great work in our lives, even when we are encountering suffering and pain.  

The name "devil" means slanderer. In Revelation 12, he is called "the accuser of the brethren." One of the ways he tries to attack us is by accusation. He accuses us before God, our brothers and sisters in Christ, always trying to divide us. This is why we must resist talking badly about others behind their backs, even though what we may be saying is true. 

The Apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 12:7, tells us the "thorn in the flesh" was given to him to keep him humble. Yet, he called it a "messenger of Satan." If God is sovereign over all things, including Satan, which He is, then God has control over the designs of Satan. God's design is holiness or wholeness in our lives, and He even uses the ill intentions of the enemy to accomplish His good work in and through us.

We "resist" the devil when we "stand firm in the faith." The devil is presented here as a vicious lion, but he is only a second-rate lion. He roars a lot and he sounds intimating, but he's a second-rate lion. In the book of the Revelation, the Lord Jesus Christ is called the "Lion of the tribe of Judah." When the Lord Jesus came the first time to this earth, He came as a Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. As the Lamb of God, while on the cross, He cried out with a loud voice, "It is finished!" That meant that all sin that had ever been committed and every sin that will ever be committed was judged in His body on that tree. And, everyone who trusts in Christ's finished work on the cross will live for eternity away from sin and death.

One day soon, the Lord Jesus will return as the Lion of Judah. And, "Out of His mouth will go a sharp sword. With it He will strike the nations." This will happen at the end the battle of Armageddon. Afterwards, "He Himself will rule all the nations with a rod of iron." This means the Lord Jesus Christ will come back to this earth, and He will rule and reign in righteousness. 

Finally, this earth will be a place that we will want to be in. And, as never before justice will be done. This will be so significant because just before the Lord returns a second time, the devil and his followers will ransack this old world and good will be called bad and bad will be called good. We can see this beginning to happen throughout this world today, and it will get so bad that for those longing for the appearing of the Lord's return at the end, it will be the most welcomed appearance.

1 Peter 5:5-7

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5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,"God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. ~ 1 Peter 5:5-7

Today, we return to our study of 1 Peter 5 where the Apostle Peter continues to show us the utter importance of submitting our lives to God. And, when we submit to Him, He will define us. Peter reveals two postures which cause us to either submit to God or to not submit to Him. Submission to the God of the Bible is the ultimate expression of wisdom and humility, and, pride is its nemesis. Humility and pride are center staged in today's passage.

In v.5 of today's passage we read, "In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'"

The group mentioned right before this verse were the elders who had the responsibility of shepherding the flock. The elders were commanded to lead by example. After addressing the elders, the Apostle Peter addressed those who were younger, and then everybody else, saying that we should be submissive and to humble ourselves before God. 

Peter's audience was made up of a group of sufferers. Twenty-one times in this letter he addressed the subject of suffering. So, he wrote this letter to a group of people who were intensely feeling the pain of suffering. And, it is in these contexts that good leadership shows up best. Those who feed God's suffering sheep give them the ability to navigate their suffering. And, most often through our sufferings we often resort to being defined by the flesh, we need oft reminders to humbly submit ourselves to the Lord who desires to inculcate His culture into our submitted lives. 

The word for "submit" is a military term that means to line up under. The idea is that we line up under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. This means that we relinquish our rights to Him. Peter commands us to voluntarily adapt ourselves to each other, or blend with one another, or to be willing to surrender our rights to the Lord Jesus for the benefit of the others who are in our lives. In God's economy, humility is essential to the success of the believer in Christ. And, in today's verses Peter gives two very important reasons for us to be humble.

All of society is built on the principle of submission. There are laws that we must live by. And if we do not keep them, those in authority will enforce those laws to help us remember. When we go to work, we have to submit to rules and regulations of the company or the vision and instruction of the boss. In virtually every part of life there is a structure, a chain of command for anything to work, and so, it is among believers in Jesus Christ. 

When we choose to be humble, we choose to submit ourselves to the capable hands of our Heavenly Father. In Micah 6:8 we read, "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." God loves humility in His children because humility gives us the vantage point of wisdom and wisdom will always enable us to see the diabolical nature of the self life.

In v.6-7 of today's passage we read, "6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 

The primary expression of humility in this passage is when we "cast all our anxieties on God." Peter commands us to be humble because, if we are proud, the culture of God will be foreign to us. Peter also commands us to be humble because as we access His grace through humility, He will lift us up in due time. The primary hindrance to casting our anxieties on God is pride which most often expresses itself through the sin of worry.

Pride stubbornly refuses to be taught the ways of God, and makes its own wishes the measure of truth. Pride cannot trust God. The posture of trust is too weak and dependent for the proud. And, trusting God is the heartbeat of humility. When pride keeps us from trusting God to take care of us, there are two detrimental results: 1) false security based on our own imagined power and shrewdness to avert trouble, and 2) since we cannot guarantee our security, we are controlled by our anxiety.

Trust is the opposite of pride, and trust is the essence of humility. Trust is the confidence that God is not out to crush us but to care for us. We must be careful to not give pride safe haven in our souls; we must be diligent to cast our anxieties on Him because He will care for us. We learn to trust God by trusting Him. We don’t learn to trust simply by reading books on trust. We only learn to trust God by trusting God.

Finally, our choice to submit, to be humble and to rest in His will for our lives are not instantaneous things that come to fruition in our lives over night. These characteristics of God's culture take a long period of time for them to be inculcated into our souls and this process is supernatural. This process comes on the heals of us learning to trust the Lord increasingly. God has to work His culture in us as we choose to submit to Him. This process is sanctification or the reshaping of our souls by the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 5:1-4

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1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. ~ 1 Peter 5:1-4

Today, we transition into 1 Peter 5 where the Apostle Peter turns his attention to those recognized as leaders among the flock. Leaders lead and are therefore recognized as such. We live in a day when leadership among God's people has been either professionalized or it is a popularity contest. Biblically speaking, those who have been gifted as leaders will lead because they are gifted by God to do such. If they do not lead, then they are not leaders no matter how many times they are voted into a position to lead. In today's passage are identified five temptations that could derail effective leadership. 

In v.1 of today's passage we read, "To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed."

The first two temptations in this verse that can derail real leadership are: losing sight of Christ's sufferings and losing sight of the coming glory of God. The key to being a follower of the God of the Bible is to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. If we do not follow Him consistently, we will not be motivated aright. We are commanded over and over in the Scriptures to keep our eyes on the Lord Jesus, in particular, we are told to focus on His death for us. God does this because there is no greater motivation for the human heart than to be reminded of His undying love for us. In addition, what His undying love has given us that we will share in His future glory.

When we lose sight of the greatest display of love ever displayed before us and what that has and will produce in our existence, we go the way of the self. It is the self that is our greatest enemy, not Satan, not the world, not unbelievers. To borrow a line from the song writer Charlie Peacock, "The disease of self that runs through our blood is a cancer that is fatal to our soul."

The people to whom Peter addressed these words were quite discouraged due to the sufferings that had come their way. They needed to be reminded that their faith was born and strengthened through suffering and adversity. It is God's way to use our suffering to give us eyes that see Him and a heart that pursues Him, resulting in a love for others. The Apostle Peter was the ideal disciple to be used of the Lord to pen these words. He was the only disciple who walked on water. He saw the glory of the Lord on the Mount of Transfiguration, only to discover his worst nightmare of denying the Lord three times the night He was betrayed. In fact, when he denied knowing the Lord a third time, he cursed so badly the word he used could not be recorded in the Scriptures.

I have learned if we bear suffering the world’s way, it produces death, the death of bitterness and resentment toward God and others. I have met people through the years who are outstanding illustrations of this truth. People who received a wound, a hurt, trouble who were as a result resentful and bitter.  And, as a result, it has produced death in their life, death to their spirit, death to their joy. When God allows suffering in our lives, it is that we might experience, among many other things, Him and His comfort.  

In v.2 of today's passage we read, "Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve."

Peter exhorts those who do the work of leadership to "shepherd" those "under their care." The Lord is often seen as a shepherd in the Bible. In Psalm 23 we read, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." In Psalm 100 we read, "We are the sheep of his pasture, we are the people of his hand." Shepherds in the Scriptures are seen in a good light because of the care they provide the sheep. Sheep, on the other hand, in the Bible are not always put in the greatest of light. In Isaiah 53 we read, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we've all gone our own way." In fact, the only time sheep are placed in favorable light is when they're placed under the supervision of a good shepherd. Since sheep get lost easily, they do not navigate well, they do not find their way on their own. Sheep require constant oversight, constant leading, constant rescue, constant cleaning, or they will die. 

As indicated in this second verse, the second temptation that could derail authentic leadership is "dishonest gain." This is the motive of false teachers whom Jude describes as "those who care only for themselves." Instead, leaders should serve "eagerly," as if the work of shepherding the sheep itself is reward enough. In order to serve willingly and eagerly as a shepherd, one has to love the Lord before he attempts to love the sheep. Some sheep are really hard to love and if we do not have the heart of THE shepherd, we will not love like we ought. And, our love for the least reveals the most about the authenticity of our love for the sheep.

In v.3 of today's passage we read, "not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock."

The next temptation that derails effective leadership is when leaders yield to the temptation of "lording (their leadership) over those entrusted to them." True leaders are those who know the way, who go the way, and then who show the way. As a result, true leaders will not serve in a "domineering" way, bossing, nagging, and threatening. They will not live to manipulate the sheep, and if they did, they would not have a flock of healthy sheep. The remedy for this is when leaders are "examples to the flock" of what it looks like to know and follow the Lord Jesus for themselves. If the leaders do not have the heart of the Shepherd themselves, they will not have a heart for His sheep.

In v.4 of today's passage we read, "And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away."

The final temptation that derails effective leadership is when the leaders lose sight of "the crown of glory that will never fade away." When Peter penned these words, he had in mind the Olympic games in Athens. Those who finish first, second, or third in the games received wreaths of leaves that were placed on theirs heads. Those wreaths did not last long. In fact, they died within a week. 

We can all labor for God for different kinds of crowns, but there is only one "crown that will never fade away." Sadly, some labor motivated by the crowns of fame and popularity, others for the crown of riches. But the best way to labor is out of the approval we have before God through the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. The best posture from which to serve God and others is the salvation that the Lord Jesus earned for us. In this case self is never in the equation. From this posture, we choose to lay down our lives for the One who laid down His life for us.