Joel Osteen Ministries
Today’s Word
Today’s Scripture
Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her….Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.”
Ruth 1:14, 16, NIV
Times of Letting Go
Ruth and her sister-in-law, Orpah, both lost their husbands. Their widowed mother-in-law, Naomi, was moving back to her hometown. She told Ruth and Orpah to return to their hometowns and find new husbands, that there was no future in staying with her. Orpah kissed Naomi and moved on. But Ruth refused to leave Naomi and was determined to care for Naomi in spite of what it might cost her. That tells me that if someone is supposed to stay with you, they’ll stick with you through thick and thin. You won’t be able to talk them into leaving. On the other hand, you can’t convince the people to stay who are supposed to leave. When God closes the door in a relationship, you can’t pay them enough, compliment them enough, or treat them good enough. You have to accept that it’s a necessary ending.
You enjoyed the time together, but to become who you were created to be, you have to let them go so you can move0 forward into new relationships, new opportunities, new growth. Trust Him when you don’t understand.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You are directing my steps even through the seasons of hurts, questions, and disappointments. Thank You that You bring people into my life and at times You move them out. Help me learn to accept Your sovereign plan, to stay in faith, and to see Your plan unfold. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
All Christians probably believe that God has the power to bless, heal, protect, prosper, and make someone a success. However, we know that not all Christians believe that God is willing to do all that for them.
Matthew 8:1–3 records the story of a leper who came to Jesus for healing. He said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” The leper did not doubt Jesus’ ability to heal him, but he was unsure if Jesus was willing to heal him, a leper who was ostracized by all.
In other words, he believed in God’s omnipotence, but was not sure if God’s heart was one of love and unmerited favor toward him. I am sure that you know believers who are like that.
They may believe in God’s power, but they are unsure of God’s heart toward them. They know that God can, but they are not sure if He is willing.
My friend, don’t be like that leper who completely misread Jesus! Let’s see how Jesus responded to him. This is important because it would be the same response that Jesus would give you if you approached Him today.
Matthew 8:3 records that “Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.'” Can you see how personal Jesus’ ministry is?
He did not touch every person that He healed. At times, He simply spoke and the sick were healed.
But in this case, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched the leper tenderly. I believe that Jesus did this to heal him not just of his leprosy, but also of the emotional scars that he had received from years of rejection.
Leprosy was a highly contagious disease and the law forbade lepers from coming into contact with anyone. This meant that for years, this leper had been shunned by everyone who saw his condition, even his own family members. He probably stank of decaying flesh and neglect, and his appearance must have been repulsive.
But without flinching, Jesus touched him, giving him the first human touch he had since he contracted the disease. The Bible tells us that immediately, his leprosy was cleansed and the man received his healing.
Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). Whatever breakthrough you are believing Him for, He says to you, “I AM WILLING.”
Don’t doubt His heart of love for you any longer. Stop being occupied by your own disqualifications and be completely absorbed in His love and grace (unmerited favor) toward you!
Dara Network TV 