16Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him.
These words might not seem that important, but they are. By this simple act the newborn baby was adopted and considered a natural born son. And this son’s son’s son was King David. The bloodline for this great king included the blood of an enemy of Israel, the Moabites. Sometimes we don’t come from the best family. We don’t have the greatest heritage. Maybe our family has lots of embarrassing events connected with them. Perhaps prison and murder. Or maybe the silent sins of rape and incest. The Lord is able to use anyone who is yielded like Ruth was yielded. He can take our messes and create something new and beautiful. So how does He do that? He does it when we are willing to let Him change us as we yield to His will. As we read the Word and allow it to sink in deeply and change the way we think about the Lord, ourselves and the world around us. When our thoughts get patterned after His thoughts, then we begin to think as He thinks. As we gather for fellowship and collective worship He uses others to refine us in the process. Are you willing to let Him work in you? Or do you really like the mess you have become?
The Arnold Journey 