Today's Devotional Thought
April 15, 2013 by Rachel Piferi
Lifelong Friends
Who do you do life with? The good and the bad. The celebrations and the mournings. The victories and the defeats. The mundane and the exciting.
You know, those people who walk it all with you. And who you walk through their ups and downs too.
Who are those "lifers" on your journey through all of life's seasons?
If we were to take a Biblical perspective on relationships, I believe that we see evidence that God sends all types of relationships into our lives. Some are designed for a season or a specific purpose. And then some are designed for the long haul.
We see that sort of long-haul commitment in the friendship between Ruth and Naomi. Brought on by the tragic death of Naomi's husband and sons {one of whom Ruth was married to}, one of the most beautiful examples of commitment to lifelong friendship unfolds. When told by Naomi to go back to her homeland after the death of both of their husbands, Ruth refuses. She commits to staying with Naomi and doing life with her from that point on (Ruth 1:16-17). We really don't know why Ruth is so committed to Naomi, but we do know that she pledges to be with her until death. In a beautiful commitment pledge to Naomi, Ruth says:
"Don't ask me to leave you! Let me go with you. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and that is where I will be buried. May the Lord's worst punishment come upon me if I let anything but death separate me from you!" (1:16-17).
Brings tears to my eyes.
Very. Special. Relationship.
And a relationship that looked very unlikely at first, was bound by a fierce commitment, and through which God worked mightily.
You could even say, he eventually changed the world through it!
In their story, Ruth's commitment to Naomi was recognized by a man named Boaz. And Ruth's commitment to Naomi inspired his commitment to her in marriage. They gave birth to Obed, then Jesse, then David, and eventually Jesus.
Out of a story of fierce, lifelong commitment to Naomi, Ruth gives birth to the lineage that would produce the man who would demonstrate his fierce, lifelong commitment to us.
Jesus.
Our ultimate example of pure and holy commitment in relationship. A commitment that led to his willing death for us.
Today, if you have someone in your life who is there through it all, tell them how much you appreciate them. Be mindful of how much of a gift from God they are. And know that we all have a lifelong committed friend in Jesus. One that demonstrates his faithfulness in all seasons and is there through it all.
Be grateful today for those lifelong friendships that you have and for what you have received in these relationships. Also, ask the Lord to show you who you can be that to. Ask him to show you if there is someone he wants you to commit to for the long haul. Through all sorts of seasons and through all sorts of weather.
Someone who you can demonstrate the love of Jesus {our ultimate lifelong friend} to. Someone who you can possibly change the world with!
I pray you all have a wonderful Monday. Full of love and remembrance of the lifelong friends we have on this Earth and the lifelong friend we all have in Jesus.
December