Monday, April 29, 2013

The Branson Road / Ruth

It's awesome the things that God can teach you in the strangest places. at this moment, I'm in the back row of a mini van. Who knew this would be the quietest spot?! John is asleep in his carseat & Jax is watching Winnie the Pooh on the DVD player. We are on our way home from a quick getaway to Branson.

I'm currently studying Ruth & I am going through Kelly Minter's study: Loss, Love, & Legacy. (Can I just take a sec to recommend any study Kelly Minter does? Greatness. Ok. Good. :))

I have to steal a story from my Husband's childhood. It's one of those where I feel like I was there because I've heard it told countless times by both parties. When Dustie was little, he had a slumber party & all of his little friends came over. Dustie's best friend (named Dusty...yes lol) is a year younger, so my D thought he was so big & cool & was being mean to Dusty. He told him that the only reason he invited him to his party was because his Daddy MADE him! Oh the scandal! That was seriously the last sleepover Dustie had. And poor Dusty! An invitation to anything (or lack thereof) can mean so much.

Today, I'm in Ruth chapter 3 & reading about when Boaz invites Ruth to dinner. Kelly (we're on a 1st-name basis...she just doesn't know!) compares this story here to the one in 2 Sam. 9:1-12 where David inquires abt, invites, & then takes in Mephibosheth.

She says how we probably all long to be invited "to the table," because it represents belonging, acceptance, & the honor of being chosen. It's a picture of intimacy, conversation, nourishment, & safety.
I must take a second to say how thankful I am for all of those who have invited my family to their table. In the ministry, we are so fortunate to get many invites like this. It is always such an honor to us because the host is blessing us with their time, their earnings by feeding my brood, & most of all, they are welcoming us in to do life with them. It's one of the things we absolutely love about ministry. We are especially spoiled, because for some people, we have a standing invitation, & then for others, they just put up with us when we keep showing up. :)

Kelly reminds us that part of what's so great about Ruth & Mephibosheth being invited to eat with nobility is that they weren't considered worthy. "They had no entrance on their own, no right to the meal, no privilege to the table. This gift could only be extended by someone who not only had a heart of extraordinary kindness but also had the authority to so so."

There is a meal that we aren't worthy to be present at, yet we have been invited, & we are to prepare for this meal now.

Revelation 19:6-10 talks about this feast: the marriage supper of the Lamb. In verse 8 it says that, "Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Here's the part to get crazy excited over...) "The linen has been given to us to wear! It is not up to us to clothe ourselves in our own self-righteousness any more than it was up to Mephibosheth to mend his feet or Ruth to redeem her heritage. Jesus Christ is our righteousness. The good news of the gospel is that Jesus has extended an invitation to EVERY ONE OF US."

I am SO thankful for the Grace of God &, although I'm so unworthy, I GET AN INVITATION!!

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