Family Fun Icebreaker: What does it mean to live with honor?
Topic 2 Question: Who is in God’s Community?
Today’s Big Idea: Ruth’s Heart of Virtue
In God’s community there are people who live honorably, truly living God’s right lifestyle. Ruth is a wonderful example of integrity, or good moral character. Spend time reading Ruth 1:1-18. This is the story of a faithful woman who stayed true to her commitment to God. Ruth was raised in a pagan society. She made the choice to marry into a family that followed a different God and committed to follow the God of her husband. Once her husband died, she had a choice to go back to her old lifestyle, or stay with her commitment to the new family and new God. Ruth chose to honor her commitment. God was pleased with Ruth because of the beauty in her heart. Her faithfulness to God reflected her integrity. Ruth also showed her mother-in-law kindness and love by staying with her instead of leaving her behind after the death of her son. The community around Ruth saw that she was a woman of excellence and honored her for her actions.
Talk with God: Read the scripture aloud.
(Spoken to Ruth) Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for
you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you
are a woman of excellence. Ruth 3:11 (NISB)
Walk with God: Read aloud and discuss.
God searches all hearts and understands every intent; He sees every heart, plan, or thought (1 Chronicles 28:9). Real beauty comes from the inside. God looks for a beautiful heart full of integrity. Your heart inside you is revealed in your words and actions. Your words and actions are evidence of what you really think. God shares that He wants you to treat another person in the same way that you want to be treated, meaning don’t be self-centered. God doesn’t say to treat others how you are actually treated, but how you “want” to be treated. When you are about to misbehave, do you stop yourself and ask, “Is this how I want to be treated?” If your answer is “no,” then stop yourself and handle the situation with good moral character. If you treat others with integrity, then those around you will notice it and honor you for it, too.
Discuss with your family: Who is someone that you know that has good integrity? Why do their words or actions stand out to you? What are some of their words and actions that you noticed? Why does it stand out in our society when someone has good integrity?
Prayer suggestion: Pray for God’s help to understand treating others right.
I will be praying for you!
Stacy
Stacy A. Davis, Author
Sky Ranch Family Devotionals
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