For Reading and Meditation:
Ruth 2:13-17
Today we see how his protective concern leads Boaz to invite Ruth to join him during a meal break. "Come over here," he says: "Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar" (v. 14). A little later he offers her some roasted grain. Gets more interesting, doesn't it? Once Ruth has completed her meal, she returns to her gleaning. Yet again, Boaz intervenes on her behalf by instructing his servants to let fall whole handfuls of grain so that she has plenty to gather. I love the way the Amplified Bible describes this moment: "And let fall some handfuls for her on purpose." "Handfuls – on purpose." What a beautiful expression. It is a picture of how God goes before each one of His toiling servants and lets fall "handfuls on purpose" - some tokens of His goodness, some special encouragement, some evidence of His care, that serves to keep us moving forward and keep our hearts bent on the divine task. Has there not been a time in your life when, overcome with the weight and burden of the day, you were about ready to give up the task God had given you, and suddenly He let fall some "handful on purpose"? Have you not experienced such a moment of divine encouragement? Perhaps it was a word in a sermon, a word from Scripture which was quickened by the Spirit to your heart, or perhaps a line in a devotional commentary. How gracious and loving is our Lord. Today He drops before you once again a "handful on purpose." Be glad for it.
O Father, how easy it is to remember the discouragements and forget the encouragements. Forgive me for my proneness to do this. Thank You for every "handful on purpose" that comes my way. I bless You for them. In Jesus' Name.