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January 24 Daily Devotional

Celebrating the Birth of Children

Peter G. Feenstra

Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel! And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him.” (Ruth 4:14–15)

Bible Reading

Ruth 4:14–15

Devotional

When a child is born into a Christian family it allows the whole congregation to celebrate. The son or daughter is a new brother or sister for the church family. When Ruth conceives and bears a son, the Bible only tells us what the women of Bethlehem said. Boaz, Ruth and Naomi are silent. The women of Bethlehem, being part of the communion of saints, sing the praises of the Lord after they have seen the wonder of His redeeming love. They praise God for what He has done from the moment Naomi and Ruth stepped into Bethlehem to the birth of this son.

Ruth’s faithfulness and obedience has a ripple effect. The circle of praise becomes wider and wider. Ruth is a witness to those who have grown up knowing the ways of the Lord. She is used by God to open the eyes of the women of Bethlehem. These sisters in Israel praise God as they realize why Boaz married Ruth. Ruth and Boaz were joined together in marriage because the Spirit of Christ was at work in them.

The Lord blesses the obedience and faithfulness of Boaz and Ruth with the birth of a son. Here, too, the birth of a child is not to be taken for granted. It is the Lord who opens and closes the womb. Ruth had been married to Mahlon for ten years but had remained childless. The men in the gates of Bethlehem are well aware of that. When they congratulate Boaz on his wedding plans they add: “May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah...” (4:11)

Seeing God’s work in the lives of Boaz and Ruth causes the women to praise and worship the Lord. With the birth of Obed they see the powerful working of the living God. There is joy and peace for these sisters in the church since they have seen the God of Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah at work.

We may praise God for the birth of children in Christian homes since we know from all of Scripture (and history) how the LORD crowns our life with His mercy. Let us praise the Lord that in Jesus Christ the children of believers are born into the world with the promise of salvation. Redemption from sin is promised to them no less than it is to adults. That makes the birth of children a time of celebration for all God’s people.

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