JUST BELIEVE
By Bishop Mike Okonkwo
Thursday 5th December 2024
“And she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.” Ruth 1:15-16 (NKJV)
The scriptures are plastered everywhere with the stories of men and women who believed in God. You must have heard about Ruth. A whole book was dedicated to a Moabitess. What was the difference between Ruth and her sister-in-law, Orpah? The word is belief! Ruth just believed! Orpah, like some people, may have said a bird in hand is better than nine in the bush. But that is not in the Bible. Like, heaven helps those who help themselves. It is not in the Bible.
Orpah went back to what she used to know. God wanted to change her story, but she stopped believing because she met an obstacle and went back. But Ruth said, where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; Your God will be my God, and your people shall be my people. She told Naomi to stop talking to her about the issue. It was a settled matter. God heard it. Her belief met with God’s word. Her story changed, and she was found in the lineage of Jesus Christ.
Mary asked to know how the word spoken to her would happen. The Angel assured her that with God, nothing shall be impossible. (Luke 1:37). No word of God is void of power. If God says something, He creates the atmosphere to produce it. Mary said: “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”(Luke 1:38 NKJV). In other words, I believe! The result is that she became pregnant and gave birth to a baby in a way that usually does not happen.
Jesus said: “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”(Mark 9:23 NKJV)
Further Reading: Ruth 1:1-18; Luke 1:26-38
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Daniel 1-2; Evening- 1 John 4