Bethlehem Road Quotes

“The story of Ruth reminds us that relationships are not cheap bonds to be broken when circumstances require—or our selfishness demands it. Rather, loyalty in any relationship is a sacred obligation.81 In marriage, a couple vows before God to be loyal to one another until death. As Christians, we rejoice in Christ’s promise to be faithful to us beyond the grave (Matt 28:20; 2 Tim 2:13). But Jesus also expects us to be devoted to one another just as he is devoted to us. This is an important message for church members who expect the church to minister to them in their self-absorption, instead of searching out opportunities to minister to others. “If the Galatians 6:2 instruction to ‘carry each other’s burdens’ has any meaning, certainly Ruth’s actions are an evidence of it. Where we can help ease the pain of individuals within the body of believers, we should do ḥesed.”82”
― Michael Whitworth, Bethlehem Road: A Guide to Ruth

“I would rather serve an Almighty God who acts mysteriously at times, but is in complete control (cf. Job 13:15), rather than a God who never hurts my feelings because he is pathetically impotent or apathetic to his children. I would also prefer to believe that God is always at work for his glory and my good, instead of believing that he only works sometimes, letting bad things happen when he is “on a break,” or that bad things slip by him like a soccer ball past the goalie.”
― Michael Whitworth, Bethlehem Road: A Guide to Ruth