Today you should read: Ruth 2:1-23
The kindness of the Lord exceeds expectation!
I really love how the book of Ruth is written. Here we are in chapter 2; today, I will give a few insights from this chapter and then show what we can gain from them.
In chapter 1, we saw the deep love that Ruth had for Naomi, a love so deep that Ruth decides to make a binding vow to the Lord to be at Naomi’s side for the rest of their lives. That’s love!
In chapter 2, Ruth asks for permission to go gather grain in the field owned by Boaz and goes with Naomi’s blessing. When Boaz returns to the field, he notices Ruth and blesses her with the opportunity to continue her work. Ruth is taken back by the kindness of Boaz, but Boaz goes further and provides a meal for her, speaks kindly to her, and allows her unlimited access to his crops.
This story has some deep implications.
Today’s “Walk-Away”
For today’s application, I want to focus on verse 20. Naomi says, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead.” Whose kindness is she referring to? Is it the Lord’s or is it Boaz’s? I think the answer is both and that this wording is ambiguous for a reason. Throughout the rest of the story, Boaz embodies characteristics of the Lord, specifically His kindness.
As the ESV study Bible states that, “This kindness is clearly visible in verses 8-9 an 14-16, where Boaz goes beyond any legal requirements in his generosity towards to Ruth.” Do you see it? The kindness of the Lord is shown in these verses. His kindness to us goes well beyond any legal requirements or obligations. His kindness to Israel as a whole and His kindness to every believer in Christ goes beyond anything we could imagine. Do you realize that? God had no obligation to save us from our sin. He had no obligation to send Christ, to live daily with us, to “never leave us nor forsake us.” His love is generous and unprecedented.
This should give you comfort. If God chose, on His own initiative, to lavish on us His undeserved kindness, we can take heart! Our sin, our failures, and our mistakes don’t make Him love us any less nor do they nullify His kindness. If we are believers in Christ, He will love us and show us His kindness regardless of our shortcomings. So if you are feeling distant or disapproved of by the Lord because of a nagging sense of failure, take heart today and rest in the unconditional kindness of the Lord, which exceeds anything we deserve.
Posted by: Sam Cirrincione
JumpstartCPC.com 
How timely, Sam! As of late, I have often felt like a failure. However, God still continues to bless me! Thank you for the reminder that He loves me…no matter what!