via TJC
So Boaz said to Ruth, “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me. Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.”. Ruth 2:8-9
Jesus Christ said that to follow in his footsteps, I had to become a servant. However, I did not want to serve. I wanted to be served. My needs and wants came first, despite the fact that I tricked myself into believing otherwise.
Then, the Lord allowed my heart to be broken. Thank God for heartbreak and its teachings. In the space of heartbreak, I learned to listen and watch and came to believe that listening is the first step to being a servant.
Lord, let me be like Boaz, even though I’m still working on it. In the book of Ruth, Boaz is a servant leader who lives out the values and principles of God's kingdom: justice, compassion, and hospitality. He took the time to watch and to see the needs of others. How many people in my life have I ignored?
1. Listen. The first part of being a servant like Boaz is listening for the call. The Holy Spirit, if you let it, will guide you. Wake up and watch!
2. Do. The second part of being a servant like Boaz is actually doing something. Don't pay lip service to real service
Boaz demonstrates his willingness to take in Ruth and provide for her needs. He goes out of his way to ensure that she is protected, even at personal risk to himself. When she was in trouble, Boaz was quick to seek a solution to ensure that Ruth's honor was protected. Boaz actually put others' needs before his own and demonstrated the kind of servant leadership that is needed in a world that is often characterized by self-interest and greed.
Daily Battle Order:
Do you stop and listen to others? Do you pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit regarding the specific actions that you can take to serve others? Do you stop short at doing service-acts or is the thought to take action “snatched away” before you can act?
I've been pondering the idea of "revival" in the church today. Is it a spiritual awakening? Is it not only an awakening but a Call to Action as well? I agree with this author, Boaz heard the call and took action. It's a hard thing to hear the call, harder still to take action. That's what being bold and courageous means to me. Boaz showed us that courage!