Author: THERESA JACOBSON

Listening for the Promise
Weekly Devotional

Listening for the Promise
Weekly Devotional

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 23) – October 12, 2025
“Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you.”
- Ruth 1:16 -
Faithful Determination
Has anyone ever gone out of their way to make sure that you were cared for, protected, or not left alone? Perhaps when you were ill there was someone who would not leave your bedside, or when you found yourself without a job there was someone who took you under their wing to provide for you until you got back on your feet. That kind of devotion, as we see in Ruth for her mother-in-law Naomi, is a rare trait indeed. There are so many other options people might choose instead of faithful devotion to someone in need. For Ruth, there was no other option. This wasn’t because there weren’t any other opportunities. She could have done something else, but her heart and mind were set on staying with Naomi, even when it meant going to Bethlehem where she would be a stranger and foreigner. 
There are no details in this story that elucidate Ruth’s reasons for choosing to stay with her mother-in-law. We only know that she was determined. It is fitting that Ruth proclaimed that Naomi’s home would be her home, and Naomi’s people would be her people, and most importantly, that Naomi’s God would be her God. Her God would be none other than the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — the God of faithfulness and steadfast love. Ruth certainly exhibited those same characteristics. 
As followers of Jesus, we, too, are called to exhibit those godly traits of faithfulness and devotion. Jesus acted as an example for us repeatedly when he healed the sick, cast out demons, and called sinners to come and follow. He never left anyone behind, and the epitome of his steadfast love was exhibited on the cross of Calvary.  Our lives are a gift to us from the Creator. Those lives are meant to be used doing what God has done and what God’s people have done. In this way, people are drawn to the Lord of life. They experience firsthand the mercy of the living God. Who do you know that’s been left behind — abandoned because of their circumstances, or, worse yet, because of others’ selfishness and self-centeredness? There is a great blessing for us who care for God’s people, especially in times of need. It is a mutual blessing we receive when we care for the needs of others. 
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 23) – October 12, 2025
“Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you.”
- Ruth 1:16 -
Faithful Determination
Has anyone ever gone out of their way to make sure that you were cared for, protected, or not left alone? Perhaps when you were ill there was someone who would not leave your bedside, or when you found yourself without a job there was someone who took you under their wing to provide for you until you got back on your feet. That kind of devotion, as we see in Ruth for her mother-in-law Naomi, is a rare trait indeed. There are so many other options people might choose instead of faithful devotion to someone in need. For Ruth, there was no other option. This wasn’t because there weren’t any other opportunities. She could have done something else, but her heart and mind were set on staying with Naomi, even when it meant going to Bethlehem where she would be a stranger and foreigner. 
There are no details in this story that elucidate Ruth’s reasons for choosing to stay with her mother-in-law. We only know that she was determined. It is fitting that Ruth proclaimed that Naomi’s home would be her home, and Naomi’s people would be her people, and most importantly, that Naomi’s God would be her God. Her God would be none other than the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — the God of faithfulness and steadfast love. Ruth certainly exhibited those same characteristics. 
As followers of Jesus, we, too, are called to exhibit those godly traits of faithfulness and devotion. Jesus acted as an example for us repeatedly when he healed the sick, cast out demons, and called sinners to come and follow. He never left anyone behind, and the epitome of his steadfast love was exhibited on the cross of Calvary.  Our lives are a gift to us from the Creator. Those lives are meant to be used doing what God has done and what God’s people have done. In this way, people are drawn to the Lord of life. They experience firsthand the mercy of the living God. Who do you know that’s been left behind — abandoned because of their circumstances, or, worse yet, because of others’ selfishness and self-centeredness? There is a great blessing for us who care for God’s people, especially in times of need. It is a mutual blessing we receive when we care for the needs of others

Sola Worship Resource — Weekly Devotional © 2024 Sola Publishing (www.solapublishing.org), written by Rev. Amy Little. Scripture taken from ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2001 . Scripture taken from ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Sola Worship Resource — Weekly Devotional © 2024 Sola Publishing (www.solapublishing.org), written by Rev. Amy Little. Scripture taken from ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2001 . Scripture taken from ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.