Greatness

I have been stuck on Ruth for who knows how many weeks. No, I don't have a crush on a girl named Ruth, you sicko. Nor have I had a fascination with Babe Ruth, I'm not a baller :)


I have been reading the book of Ruth over and over, and totally noticing things that I've never picked up on before or haven't quite grasped in the same way as I am now (thank you, Holy Spirit). Everyone focuses on Jesus as the kinsman-redeemer or dwells on Ruth's famous pledge to Naomi, and like other scriptures that have been sermonized it's easy to not look beyond those things. However, I don't really want to go into what He's been showing me in my reading; I'll save that for another day.


I just came across a quote: "Those who are different change the world. Those who are ordinary simply keep it that way." Now let me preface what I'm about to say as I have to do with most things that I say, because sometimes my thoughts don't quite jive with everyone else's': to the person who posted this quote and to those who know who posted this quote - this is not an affront to you. I know your heart, and I know that for you to have posted this it struck you in a way that only God could. You know that I love you, but you also know that my thought processes are weird. :) This is by no means an insult to you but just how it hit me. However, if you so wish, we may schedule a time to meet in a parking lot somewhere so that you can beat me up... when I was in high school, the place to do this would have been the Country Crossings gas station at say 6:00? :)


Ok, back to the quote:  Those who are different change the world. Those who are ordinary simply keep it that way. So upon reading that, I think to myself 'inspirational,' but then as it sets in it kind of ticks me off. (again, I must say that you don't tick me off, just the way I interpreted it ticks me off - Country Crossings 6:00?) Why did that tick me off? Maybe 'ticked off' is too harsh a word, let's say 'bothered'. It has too much pressure associated with it. In my thought processes, I suddenly find myself with a huge weight on my shoulders. I MUST DO SOMETHING TOTALLY AWESOME AND CHANGE THE WORLD OR I AM NOTHING AND HAVE DONE NOTHING FOR GOD! OH GEEZ!!! Panic ensues. 


But then I think back to Ruth. Did Ruth stand before the masses and preach a rockin' sermon on the Lord's divinity??? Did Ruth build a home for orphans??? Did she lead an army in God's name? Well sure, she could have... she could have done all of  those things and more! But what is she remembered for? What did the Holy Spirit impress upon someone so long ago to record for the ages to know about Ruth? She was faithful to a widow (indeed when she was even a widow herself), she worked hard, she was humble, she had character and integrity, and the Lord redeemed her for it. That's all. And YET she changed the world! She was grafted into THE bloodline, the greatest bloodline of all! She was a part of the family tree of Christ!


So my encouragement is - don't get hung up by your perceptions, but perceive as the Lord perceives. See the bigger picture. Those who are different change the world - We are different as we belong to the Lord and are a part of His Body. He is what makes us different. Christ uses ordinary people for ordinary things that have extraordinary results. You may simply be cooking a meal for someone whose family is in the hospital today, but the effects of that could be eternal and phenomenal. Don't forget that there is purpose in the small things! We won't all stand before thousands like Billy Graham, or walk on the water like Peter, or lead an army like David, but we may just, like Ruth, live our lives faithfully (even in the simplest things) so that they bring glory to His name!!!

"And what does the Lord require of you, But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?"