Request And Reason

But Naomi said, Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? Ruth 1: 11

The request of Naomi, is for her daughters-in-law to return to their own homes and not come with her as she returns to her own home.  The word home, gives us two pictures in two different meanings. When Naomi tells her companions to return home, she is speaking of each going back to their individual families, to their own mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and suchlike. I refer to it as each person’s own private home.  On the other hand, when Naomi asks, “Why would you come with me?” She is referring to her decision to return home to her country, her place of birth. Simply put, as Naomi goes back home to her country of birth, she is requesting that Orpah and Ruth return home to their respective places of birth.

Listening with expanded hearing and seeing with extended sight, here is the heart and mind of one who does not want companionship in returning home. In this path, home is Father God.

This is a time of renewal and return – Returning home.

This is a time of leaving and going – Going home.

This is a time of uprooting and replanting – Replanting one’s feet towards home.

It is because one has been convicted and constrained in heart, mind, soul and strength that one is on the road which leads to home. It is on this road, the request is made for travelling companions to leave and return home.  It is as you have been held by the grace and mercy of God, to have ears which hear of all God has done for His people and given to His people, who are abiding at home, that you want the same for you.

Here is my personal testimony.

This is convicting and constraining power, which has reached me in my faraway place.  My faraway place is the place where I dwell, which is good and comfortable, the place where I serve and worship God, the place where I endeavour to offer me to God and be and do the correct things, living as good a Christian life as I can. I have not gone to Church in person to be physically there, but I have gone virtually. Lots of religious things are taking place on this first Lord’s Day Sunday of a brand New Year. However, when this one verse is read, I feel this strange and different opening up in my entire being.

Suddenly, I hear, not in my ear, not in my mind, but in all of me, every single part of me, these words.  I don’t know who read the lesson, male or female, for I heard not the human voice, but the Power of the Word of Jesus cancel my thoughts, plans, ideas and everything as I was captured fully. This is the well-known Scripture verse, which was made life in me.

If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask for what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15: 7 – 8 NKJV

Hearing this Word, in that moment, I knew, and felt and saw how far away from home, I was. Home, being the truth of this Living Word of Jesus, for if Jesus is Home, then His spoken Word is also Home. I knew that I had immediately to leave my present place and journey back to abiding in Jesus and His words abiding in me. It was time for return and renewal. As this word was planted deep within my very being, I was resolute in returning.

Where are you at the moment? I know that you too have heard, if not the same word, another convicting word. It is a word which has you most uncomfortable and seriously resolute in no longer living as you have been doing. Your burning desire is to return home to all the promises Jesus has given to those who follow Him, obediently, sincerely and truthfully. In this moment, you and I are united with Father God in Covenant, as He has brought us to this renewal and we have humbly obeyed and seek Him.

Returning to Naomi, the child of God, who is making request of her companions, we see our own selves doing the same.

• True, the Powerful and gracious Word of God has convicted and convinced you and me.

• True, you and I have responded to God’s Word and have turned away from where we were abiding.

• True, our hearts and minds are not just on returning, but we are on the road which leads to home.

However, we look at our companions and no longer want them to return with us. Who are our companions? Whom or what don’t we want to return home with us? And what is our reasoning?

We complete this tomorrow.