“Thy People… My People”

Let us first understand what is taking place here.

“And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. 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. When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.” (Ruth 1:15-18)

I. Staying with Jesus

What does Ruth, the religious but lost woman, Moses the criminal shepherd, and Peter the big smelly fisher man all have in common? They met God, the real God, and then they left all to follow Him.

“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:” (Ruth 1:16)

     A. Who are you?

“When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (Luke 5:8)

“But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 12 And God said, “I will be with you.” (Exodus 3:11-12a)

     B. Who is He?

“When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (Luke 5:8)

“But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 12 And God said, “I will be with you.” (Exodus 3:11-12a)

II. Going with Jesus

“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:” (Ruth 1:16)

     A. Where is He going?

“And he said unto them, ‘How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49)

     B. Where does He live?

“And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” (Luke 9:58)

1. To be with Jesus you must get outside the walls of your home.
2. To be with Jesus you must get outside the walls of your church.
3. “The Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”
   1. This is not a complaint.
   2. This is a mark of honor.
   3. This is a fact.

III. Belonging to Jesus

“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:” (Ruth 1:16)

     A. Who are Christ’s people? (How to recognize the S.A.L.T.: the Savior’s Ambassadors Laboring Together?)

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35)

     B. Who is God?

“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:5)

1. He’s the one who gives you hope: life in God the Son!
2. He’s the one who gives you love: love from God the Father!
3. He’s the one who gives you light: light from God the Holy Spirit!
   1. Do not hinder the love “shed abroad in our hearts.”
   2. Help to spread the love “shed abroad in our hearts.”

Conclusion:

Ruth said,

“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. When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.” (Ruth 1:17)

Why? Why so eternally determined? Why so unshakably surrendered? Because through Naomi she had come to know the kindness, she had come to know peace, she had come to know rest in this world and to taste of joys in the world to come. Through Naomi, Ruth had come to know the love of God, the love of Christ: o’ what a merciful and loving Lord is ours!

Yes, that’s Christianity! That’s a Christian! Not someone who exemplifies “bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” (Ephesians 4:31b, NIV)

Yes, remember: be honest enough to ask yourself what people are asking themselves about you: “Are you really a Christian?”

OUTLINE:

“Thy People… My People”

1. Staying with Jesus
2. Who are you?
3. Who is He?
4. Going with Jesus
5. Where is He going?
6. Where does He live?
7. To be with Jesus you must get outside the walls of your home.
8. To be with Jesus you must get outside the walls of your church.
9. “The Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”
   1. This is not a complaint.
   2. This is a mark of honor.
   3. This is a fact.

• Belonging to Jesus

1. Who are Christ’s people?
2. Who is God?

“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:” (Ruth 1:16)

WORSHIP:

I Have Decided to Follow Jesus (300)

I Am Resolved (315)

They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love