Selfless in the midst of loss
And she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”But Ruth said:
“Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die,
And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.” Ruth 1:15-17
In the midst of becoming a widow, Ruth had a difficult decision to make. A practical decision would have been to return home. Her mother-in-law released her to go back to her family because she had nothing to offer Ruth. However, Ruth chose to stay and serve her mother-in-law.
Why did she choose to do it? She must have experienced her God. In the natural, Naomi had no promise of security to offer Ruth, but her God was more valuable than any earthly security she could give her. Against all odds, Ruth chose to follow Naomi and her God, and in the process she gained so much more than she could have ever imagined!
Because Ruth remained in Naomi’s family, Boaz as a Kinsman’s redeemer was able to marry her. They had a son named Obed who became the grandfather of King David. Ruth was not a Jew, but she had the great privilege of being in Jesus’ lineage because she followed and loved Naomi and her God!
Ruth passed the pressure test by being selfless. Are you selfless under pressure?
Merciful in the midst of injustice
When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. Luke 22 (49-51)
Our ultimate example of a man under great pressure is our Lord Jesus Christ. He was a man who was sinless and hadn’t done anything deserving of death. Peter tried to protect him by cutting off the ear of the servant. Jesus could have felt appreciative by the loyalty of those around Him, but that wasn’t his response. In the account of Matthew, He actually warned Peter, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52). Regardless of the pressure we are in, Jesus’ statement is a profound and powerful statement to write on the tablet of our hearts.
Jesus was neither looking for man to defend him nor was he going to retaliate. On the contrary, He healed the man’s ear. Jesus didn’t do it with the expectation that things were going to be changed for him, or the soldiers would stop from arresting Him. He did it because he was merciful. His assignment was to do the will of the Father and represent a loving father to humanity.
God is in control
The scripture tells us, And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
If we keep looking to God and not be compelled by the stress of the moment, we can respond well under pressure! Nothing can deter God’s plan in our lives. Neither life nor death, neither injustice nor cruelty, neither a person nor a circumstance, neither lack nor abundance can keep God from performing His good and perfect will in our lives!
One moment under pressure can reveal much about what is inside of us! We don’t have to deny or excuse it. The Lord shows it to us, so He can deliver us from it!
Lord, reveal and remove from our hearts what is not like you. Help us to be yielded to the Spirit and respond well under pressure! Thank you for empowering us to do right.