What I Love aAout Ruth

My comment this week isn't a very long one. The book of Ruth is an exception to much of the Old Testament in that it is pretty straight forward. I love this story of integrity, compassion, love, hope, living within the law, charity and trust. But, here is what I love the most this time:

Ruth is from Moab. Isn't that great? At the end of the book of Ruth we find out that she has a son named Obed who is the father of Jesse, who is the father of David. King David. The line in which Christ comes through. The great thing about Ruth being from Moab is that the Moabites worshipped a variety of Gods. When Ruth told Naomi that Naomi's God would be her God, Ruth converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She did not belong to the tribes of Israel - the Lord's "chosen people." I find this incredibly significant!! In the New Testament, the Pharisees and Saducees and it seems the general Jewish population regarded highly only those who were from true lines descending from the tribes of Israel. Christ comes from a line a Moabite becomes part of the tribe of Israel only through conversion/adoption. So, technically he does not come from a pure line. Isn't this great?!? How wonderfully symbolic is it that the Savior of ALL mankind comes from a women of high integrity outside of the tribes of Israel. How truly wonderful that his own ancestry includes those who are open enough to accept Him, who are not as we say these days "born in the covenant." I think it gives hope to all and teaches us to be careful to not create our own expectations or putting limits on the Lord, but to follow the spirit and will of the Lord as it comes. Which means we need to live in a way so we can do that. We need to practice feeling the spirit, create our own opportunities to do that, so that when we are called by the Lord, we will know it. Like Ruth, like the original (and modern) twelve apostles, like a Primary teacher. Whenever and where ever.