I vividly recall elementary and high school gym classes. Not being particularly athletic, this was not my favorite time of the day as it was a stark reminder of the talents I did not possess. Suffice it to say that I was not a first round pick for the various games we played.

Thankfully neither of my children inherited my athletic ineptitude. They rocked in their individual athletic attempts, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching them play. In fact, my enthusiasm was heard throughout the basketball courts, volleyball gymnasiums, softball, and soccer fields. If I can do nothing else, I am a great (and loud!) cheerleader!

This week I was reading about two different people in the Bible. One named Ruth and the other who has no name but yet has been talked about for generations. Let me share a bit about the first one, Ruth.

Ruth was the daughter-in-law of Naomi, a woman who lost her husband and her two sons. When Naomi decided to return to her hometown after these tragic losses, she encouraged her two daughters-in-law to go to their respective homes. One, named Orpah did as Naomi requested.

However, Ruth did not. Here’s what she had to say:

“For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.” (Ruth 1:16 NKJV)

Can you just hear the loyalty and devotion in Ruth’s voice? She was not going to leave Naomi no matter what happened. She would withstand every trial alongside her mother-in-law because she knew that God would save them both. And He did. (Click here to read the full story.)

Fast forward several hundred years later to the time of Jesus’ crucifixion. If you recall, Jesus was on the middle cross in between two convicted felons. One of the thieves mocked Jesus and shouted to Him, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us” (Luke 23:39 NKJV). 

Here’s what the other thief said:

“But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”  And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:40-43 NKJV)

Like Ruth, I can once again hear the devotion and loyalty in this man’s voice. He had a revelation of who Jesus was, and now he is in heaven as promised.

I realize this is an odd pairing but there is one thing that connects them: despite the immense

 hardships in each of their lives, they both declared their faith in God. Because of this, both were blessed.

What should this teach us?

When we put our faith in God, in who He is and in His promises, we can be assured of blessings. God is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19) so every promise He declares to us in His Word, is ours…IF we believe and receive. 

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV)

Know this for certain: Just like the thief on the cross, Jesus wants YOU on His winning team. No matter how athletically challenged or broken you are, you’ll be His first pick every single time. 

What are you waiting for? Batter up!

God bless you!
Jennifer

P.S. If you would like to learn more about who God is, click here to watch or listen to the Elevate The Day podcast “Get Dialed Into God with Rev. Phil Privette.”