From Acts to Ruth is quite a jump. But I see a connection between these passages on the theme of little things that mean a lot. Boaz was kind to Ruth. His little acts of kindness provided food and water for her as she worked. He instructed his workers to be kind to her. He told them to make it easier for her to glean more barley by pulling stalks out and leaving them for her to pick up. But it didn’t stop there. He pronounced a blessing on her: “May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” What a beautiful prayer! All of those little things began the process by which Ruth would later become his wife and bear a son. But it didn’t end there, the family line would continue through that son to David who became the King of Israel and then on down to Jesus, our coming King. Boaz became the ancestor of kings and it all started with being kind.
How many great works of God have begun with simple acts of kindness? Perhaps you, or someone you know, came to the Lord in a process that began with someone’s simple kindness and prayer. But it doesn’t stop there. We never know how our kindness and prayer can be a channel of blessing for others — and for us! Perhaps you have already seen God at work in this way in your life. Perhaps, you will get to see it again as you reach out in kindness to others and pray for them.
Lord, make me a blessing. Even when I feel like I can’t do much of anything, I know you can!
Mary Roller
