I read the first chapter of Ruth this morning. I've read her story many times, but it struck me differently today; perhaps because I am looking for people who do radical things.
Ruth was radical. She was determined to cling to Naomi at her own personal sacrifice, at her own peril, and probably against her better judgement. She saw in Naomi a worthy cause, and she didn't care what other people would think. Her determination silenced Naomi's protests.
The story is scary to me. It makes me ask some hard questions about safety, security, sanity, and sacrifice. It makes me evaluate what I cling to...my cozy home, my family, my comfortable faith. Honestly, who or what is my Naomi? The right answer is Christ, but do my choices reflect that?
Ten of us gathered recently to explore this idea. There was a spirit of holy determination to better live out this faith we profess, to give it teeth and nails. But mingling with determination was fear and doubt about how successful we will really be in leaving our holy huddle and entering the wilderness.
Just as Naomi tried to dissuade Ruth from leaving her safe home, Jesus tried to talk his disciples out of following him by pointing out all they would be sacrificing: comforts, relationships, respect. Will we take his warnings and say, "Um, alrighty then, I think I'll stay put here on my soft couch and thank you kindly for my salvation." Or will we take the challenge?
I have no plan. I am, instead, trying to be fertile ground, asking God to plant seeds that will take root, change the landscape, prevent erosion, and bear fruit. I'm praying the fruit will be unrecognizable to me; completely new and wonderful, sticky and dripping with the glory of God.
There is was. In black and white with the little bitty numbers on the onion skin paper. God knocking me over the head. Again.
"Break up your unplowed ground."
I mean Jeremiah had a ton to say this morning about evil and sin and mocking God. He would never have been voted president by shaking his finger at the camera and saying, "America, you have grown fat and sleek, and your evil deeds have no limits." Jer 5:27-28, minus "America."
Eyeroll. Change the channel. Ah, there, a rerun of Friends.
But when you open the Bible with the attitude that God IS going to tell you something you NEED to hear, and that the message with supercede time and culture, then you can see truth bleeding all over the page and into the present age. Into your life.
"Break up your unplowed ground."
OK, where am I hard, dense, packed down, trampled on, thorny, bristly, apathetic?
The sharp blade severs the soil, cutting all those weedy roots woven like a tiny prison, turning up fresh loam, loosening what was tight like a gag. But only because I consent. Because I'm tired of claiming only the comfy parts of the Bible like blessing and unconditional love and grace, thinking I can write my songs, and homeschool my children, and make my home a haven, and serve when it is convenient.
David Platt in Radical and Jen Hatmaker in Seven and Katie Davis in Kisses from Katie point out my unplowed ground. What am I doing? What am I planting? Why is this faith of mine so easy? What is the point of all this accumulated stuff? Where shall I go? How messy shall I get? How much shall I spend?
How bright might I shine?
How much might grow?
