Faith is not a feeling… but…

• It’s a beautiful thing in those “moments” when our faith and our feelings do connect!

Today we’re going to look at three very different examples of “faithfulness”

• Orpah
• Ruth
• Naomi

Orpah

• On the surface it may appear that Orpah is the least faithful of these three women.
  
  • But don’t be so sure.
    • Even though we are all called to be faithful, we don’t all have the same calling!
      
      • The evidence shows that Oraph was living into her calling.

Ruth

• She’s the heroin of the story, as the name of the book implies. Her faith was exhibited in love, determination and selflessness.
  
  • But the fact is, maybe we’re giving Ruth more credit than is deserved… Perhaps her faithfulness to Naomi grew out of the fact that she had nothing to go home too! We don’t know…
    
    • But does it matter? The fact is, her faithfulness is one of the most beautiful expressions of faithfulness in the entire Bible!

Naomi

• Her faithfulness is expressed very differently than the other two.
  
  • Ruth 1:20- “Call me Mara (which means bitter), for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me…”
    
    • In some ways, Naomi’s expression of faithfulness is the best of all! She didn’t loose her faith in the midst of her trials and tribulations.
      
      • Was she angry and bitter? Yes! But she didn’t give up, and God blessed her for that!

God’s got broad shoulders. He can take it if you get mad at Him.

• Just don’t give up on Him!

Faithful (Even when you don’t feel like it)

Scripture: Ruth 1:6-22

Simple. Authentic. Jesus.

Prairiebible.org