Ruth 1:16-18 – “And Ruth said to her, Far be it from me to return from following after you, and to leave you; for where you go, I will go; and where you dwell, I will dwell; your people shall be my people, and your God my God:¹⁷ Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried; may the LORD do so to me, and more also, if even death can separate me from you.¹⁸ When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, then she ceased from urging her to go back.”

As I read, prayed, pondered, and considered the Word, the thought of persistent obedience and prevailing love filled my consciousness.

In Judges, the story of Samson is filled with inspiration and warning. Samson was chosen for greatness from birth. He looked like everyone else, but there was a flow of supernatural strength inside. If he had been a Mr. Atlas, nobody would have wondered where his strength came from. He drank water from the rock at Lehi after killing 1,000 men with the jawbone of a donkey. Water is life, and the rock is Christ, so symbolically, he drank living water from Christ.

He lived as near the border between sin and righteousness as he could. With each tryst with Delilah, he moved nearer his downfall. Never dabble in the waters of sin!

Ruth exhibited persistent love and obedience in following Naomi.

Paul addressed the Thessalonians in 2 Thessalonians 1:3b, focusing on their unselfish love for each other. He said that it was visibly increasing and overflowing. In v.4, he spoke of their unflinching endurance. Those speak of persistent love and obedience—all marks of Christianity—all visible, tangible testimonies to the world of God’s grace at work.

In 2 Thessalonians 3:13, he makes a beautiful statement that is usually not quoted in context. “Brothers and sisters, don’t ever grow weary in doing what is right.”

In the previous verse, he addressed laziness and idleness and gave a clear directive. Some wouldn’t work. He said they were not busy but busybodies! In v.11, his instruction was, “Don’t help them be lazy; no work, no food!”

He used verse 13 in that context. It is a double truth. Serving and having a charitable heart are always the objectives. Administering discipline, true redemptive discipline is also vital.

We reap what is sown.  

• If we sow gracious, persistent obedience and love, we will reap that.  
• If we sow proper discipline, we will reap order.
• If we neglect discipline, we will experience disorder and disarray.

The objective is always restoration!  Doing what is right is not always easy, but it is always right.  It has reward!

Today, my cry is, Lord, help me; help us to live lives of persistent, obedient love! Love draws love like a magnet. Hate draws hate like a flame attracts moths. The harvest is based on sowing. Lord, help us sow the harvest we need!

May the grace, peace, power, and love of God flow to you and through you today!