As we take captive our thoughts and keep them firmly on the Lord God and His word, the Lord will give us His promise of peace as we trust in Him. “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” (Isaiah 26:3) Thanks for helping us keep our minds focused upon the Lord as we enter this weekend.

A Thought on Ruth 1:16 “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16) When faced with a choice between staying or following, Ruth chose to follow. She chose to move forward with God rather than remain in her comfort zone. Ruth, a Moabitess, had a choice: leave Naomi and return to the life she once embraced, or go with Naomi into a new life and follow the Lord God. Her confession marks a change of allegiance, from the gods of Moab to the living God. Ruth's declaration demonstrates profound loyalty and marks a conversion from an old way of life to a new, loving relationship with the Lord. It therefore challenges us to examine our faith and commitment to God and calls us to be steadfast and faithful to our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. When life’s difficult decisions come our way, we need to be like Ruth and choose to follow God by faith rather than take the easy, most comfortable path. Because of Ruth's choice, she became the wife of Boaz, an ancestor of King David, and her decision to follow God was honored as she joined the hallowed ancestry of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Ruth's inclusion in Jesus's lineage highlights the impact of a life lived in faith and encourages us to consider the legacy we leave behind.