Day 14 – The Power of Influence

(Ruth 1:6-18)

No hope

After ten years of living in a foreign country, which was riddled with multiple tragedies, Naomi set out to return to her homeland. She considered the ten years wasted because of her pain from the loss of her husband, two sons and no grandchildren.

Naomi felt that God had delt harshly with her and that there was no hope in her future. She changed her name from “Sweet” to “Bitter”.

Stay faithful

Naomi desired the best life for her daughters in law. She did not want them to go with her to a life of hopelessness. Hence, she encouraged them to go back to their parents with her blessings. She desired for them to remarry and have a home of their own.

Orpah took her advice and left, but Ruth clung to her and refused to go back to her parents. Orpah’s “sensible action” represents our tendency to back down on our commitment to Christ in the face of adversity and apparent hopelessness.

It requires faith and commitment to stay faithful when the road ahead is unclear and bleak as Ruth did.

Influence others

Ruth had found Naomi’s faith in the God of Israel and held on to it, even when Naomi’s faith was wavering. She decided that Naomi’s God will be her God. She would not go back to the pagan gods of Moab she had renounced.

Ruth chose the prospect of an uncertain future with the God of Israel over an assumed security with the gods of Moab. She had decided to follow the Living God and the fear of the future would not make her turn back.

When we live right and walk humbly with our God, it encourages others to choose our God. While in Moab, Naomi must have lived in way that encouraged Ruth to embrace her faith, her God, and her people.

Your life of faith can influence others to follow Christ.

The Power of Influence

Our lives should be pointing others to our God and inspiring them to develop faith in Him. That could be an invaluable purpose of what we may sometimes consider our wasted years.

If only one person chose your God and to have faith in Jesus Christ, your difficult years are not wasted years. The one thing you will leave behind you wherever you go is your influence.

Make sure your life influences someone for Christ.

“Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity“

1 Timothy 4:12