Charles Haddon Spurgeon's Morning Devotional For Saturday December 15, 2018 |
Morning Time: 3:29 AM PST
"Orpah kissed her mother-in-law; but Ruth clave unto her." --Ruth 1:14
Both of them had an affection for Naomi, and therefore set out with her upon
her return to the land of Judah. But the hour of test came; Naomi most
unselfishly set before each of them the trials which awaited them, and bade them
if they cared for ease and comfort to return to their Moabitish friends. At
first both of them declared that they would cast in their lot with the Lord's
people; but upon still further consideration Orpah with much grief and a
respectful kiss left her mother in law, and her people, and her God, and went
back to her idolatrous friends, while Ruth with all her heart gave herself up to
the God of her mother in law. It is one thing to love the ways of the Lord when
all is fair, and quite another to cleave to them under all discouragements and
difficulties. The kiss of outward profession is very cheap and easy, but the
practical cleaving to the Lord, which must show itself in holy decision for
truth and holiness, is not so small a matter. How stands the case with us, is
our heart fixed upon Jesus, is the sacrifice bound with cords to the horns of
the altar? Have we counted the cost, and are we solemnly ready to suffer all
worldly loss for the Master's sake? The after gain will be an abundant
recompense, for Egypt's treasures are not to be compared with the glory to be
revealed. Orpah is heard of no more; in glorious ease and idolatrous pleasure
her life melts into the gloom of death; but Ruth lives in history and in heaven,
for grace has placed her in the noble line whence sprung the King of kings.
Blessed among women shall those be who for Christ's sake can renounce all; but
forgotten and worse than forgotten shall those be who in the hour of temptation
do violence to conscience and turn back unto the world. O that this morning we
may not be content with the form of devotion, which may be no better than
Orpah's kiss, but may the Holy Spirit work in us a cleaving of our whole heart
to our Lord Jesus.
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