December 15

Morning

Again they wept aloud, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her. — Ruth 1:14 BSB

Both Orpah and Ruth had affection for Naomi, and so they set out with her as she returned to the land of Judah. But when the time of testing came, Naomi, with great unselfishness, laid before them the hardships they would face, telling them that if they sought comfort and ease, they should return to their Moabite families. At first, both women declared their intention to stay with Naomi and join the Lord’s people. But after further reflection, Orpah, with much sorrow and a respectful kiss, parted ways with her mother-in-law, her people, and her God, and returned to her idolatrous life. Ruth, however, gave herself fully to the God of her mother-in-law, with all her heart.

It’s one thing to love the ways of the Lord when everything is going well, but it’s quite another to hold fast to them through trials and difficulties. The kiss of outward profession is easy and costs little, but the practical commitment to cleaving to the Lord, which reveals itself in a firm decision for truth and holiness, is a far greater challenge.

Where do we stand? Is our heart firmly fixed on Jesus? Have we bound ourselves with cords to the altar, committing our lives fully to Him? Have we counted the cost, and are we ready to suffer any worldly loss for the sake of the Master? The rewards that come after will far outweigh the sacrifices, for the treasures of this world cannot compare to the glory that will be revealed.

Orpah is never heard of again. She disappears into the ease and idolatry of Moab, and her life fades into the shadows of death. But Ruth lives on, both in history and in heaven, for God’s grace placed her in the noble lineage from which the King of kings would come. Blessed are those who, for Christ’s sake, can renounce all, while those who shrink back in the hour of temptation will be forgotten. May we never be satisfied with mere outward devotion, like Orpah’s kiss, but may the Holy Spirit work in us a deep, wholehearted cleaving to our Lord Jesus!

Evening

O afflicted city, lashed by storms, without solace, surely I will set your stones in antimony and lay your foundations with sapphires. — Isa 54:11 BSB

Not only what is visible about the church of God but also what is hidden is precious and beautiful. Foundations are often out of sight, and as long as they are strong, we don’t expect them to be particularly valuable. But in the work of Jehovah, everything is costly, nothing is cheap, and nothing is overlooked.

The deep foundations of God’s grace are as valuable as sapphires. No human mind can truly grasp their glory. We are built upon the covenant of grace, which is firmer than any earthly stone and as enduring as jewels that time cannot touch. These sapphire foundations are eternal, and the covenant will last as long as God Himself.

Another foundation is the person of the Lord Jesus, clear, spotless, everlasting, and beautiful like the sapphire. He reflects the deep blue of earth’s vast oceans and the boundless azure of the sky. Once, He could have been compared to a ruby, covered in His own blood. But now, He shines with the soft blue of love—abounding, deep, eternal love.

Our eternal hope is built upon the justice and faithfulness of God, which are as pure and flawless as the sapphire. We are not saved by a compromise, where mercy undermines justice, or where the law is suspended. No! There is no flaw in the foundation of our hope—it is as perfect as a sapphire and will endure any trial.

The Lord Himself has laid the foundation of our hopes. It is worth asking ourselves whether our hopes are built on such a solid base. Good works and religious ceremonies are not foundations of sapphires but of wood, hay, and stubble—laid by our own pride, not by God. These foundations will be tested soon enough, and woe to the one whose lofty tower crumbles into dust because it was built on shifting sand! But the one whose foundation is laid on sapphires can face any storm or fire without fear, for they will endure the test!