The Ultimate Note—Ruth
Scripture Reading: Ruth 1
“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried; the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me,” Ruth 1:16–17.
The Ultimate Note—Ruth
Father God, we thank you because no matter what has happened, or is happening, or will happen, it is well with our souls. There are many sounds coming from the music of our lives, but today we pray for the grace to play the ultimate note. Lord, you have shown us how Abraham and Solomon played that note and were showered with your blessings. Lord, even as we share the ultimate note of commitment manifested by Ruth, we pray that you give us the courage to ask ourselves: what is the instrument of the ultimate note that God has given me to play for Him? Father, give each one of us the grace to play that note so that your blessings become realities in our lives in Jesus’ name.
Beloved, Ruth 1 is a full chapter. Naomi moves to a foreign land with her husband and marries off her two sons. She then loses both husband and sons, and is left with two daughters-in- law. Orpah and Ruth were committed to Naomi and stayed with her after her sons died. But the reward that Naomi had yet to give could only be given to the one who would play the ultimate note of commitment. Orpah was involved, while Ruth was committed.
Ruth had the spirit of commitment to Naomi. She was ready to die and be buried with her. With this level of commitment, there is usually a release of blessings. Ruth played her ultimate note in commitment and received the legacy that made her part of the lineage of Jesus.
Naomi was a widow: she was childless and had nothing tangible to offer any young woman anymore. Ruth and Orpah were with her, and everything that could be taken from her was gone. In Hebrews 12:27 it says to let everything that can be shaken, be shaken so that what cannot be shaken will remain. The only thing of Naomi’s that remained was her legacy.
Naomi had given all kinds of things to these young ladies, but the time had come for her to release her greatest gift: her legacy. When a person is gone, a legacy is everything else about the person that remains. Naomi’s legacy was that she was a child of God. She came from a people of destiny and that could not be taken away from her. She was broken, she was alone, she was childless, but she had a heritage. Because she had no heirs, she could only link commitment to that heritage and Ruth was committed to her. When Naomi returned to her people, Ruth was appreciated for her commitment. When Boaz met Ruth, he said he had heard about that spirit of commitment in her. It gave Ruth the favour that she needed to be the greatest woman she could be in her generation by being the one who would give birth to Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David, and who would ultimately be part of the lineage of the Lord Jesus Christ.
When Ruth manifested that commitment to Naomi, the Lord God Almighty must have looked down and said, “I want those genes in the flesh of my Son. When He comes to earth, He will need commitment to go to Calvary. I am going to release my Son into her life.”
Commitment brings blessings. Playing the ultimate note brings blessings. Ruth played the ultimate note of commitment and received the legacy of Naomi. Orpah thought Naomi had nothing more to offer and missed Naomi’s greatest gift. By telling Naomi she would go, live, and die wherever Naomi was, Ruth played her ultimate note and the ultimate release of legacy came to her. Ruth, a Moabitess, now became an Israelite. She, who was nobody, became the mother of Jesus.
I pray that today you will appreciate the need to manifest your best at all times. If you are a student or a teacher, be the best student or teacher you can be. If you are a minister, be the best minister you can be. If you are a cook or a cleaner, be the best cook or cleaner you can be. Play your ultimate note, for there is a release in playing the ultimate note that no other performance can give. Remember, when the musician plays his ultimate note, he receives a standing ovation. I pray that in the name of Jesus you will play your ultimate note and receive your reward.
Prayer Points:
If you have never given your life to Jesus, you cannot ultimately manifest excellence. Pray with me and say, “Lord Jesus, I surrender my life to you. Pour into my spirit your Holy Spirit and give me the grace to play the ultimate note.”
