📌 HAVE YOU BEEN TEMPTED?

WE ALL GO THROUGH MANY TEMPTATIONS...Many of these temptations can be fear, insecurity, weaknesses in some area of ​​life, offers of easy money, women, sexuality, pornography, offers to be dishonest, attraction to people of the same sex, to stealing, stealing, making offerings for quick results, betraying or being an adulterer, speaking bad words, participating in fights, disputes, falling into provocations, there are many temptations... And for all of them, the Christian ( d) with the help of the Holy Spirit and His Word you must say no! Why...

“But each is tempted, when attracted and enticed by his own lust. Then, when concupiscence has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, being consummated, brings forth death." James 1:14-15.

“No temptation has come upon you, but human; but faithful is God, who will not let you be tempted above that ye are able, but with temptation he will also make an escape, that ye may bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13.

Use the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the strength you need to resist temptation to the end:

“But I say, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these oppose one another, that you do not do what you want.” Galatians 5:16-17.

"For the weapons of our militia are not carnal, but mighty in God for the destruction of strongholds;." 2 Corinthians 10:4.

Get the Word of God into your heart before you're tempted, so you'll have it when you need it:

"I hid your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:11.

“Furthermore, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-11.

"With what shall a youth cleanse his way? By keeping him according to thy word." Psalm 119:9.

Remember your covenant with God:

"how then would I do such wickedness, and sin against God?" Genesis 39:9.

“I made a covenant with my eyes; how, then, would I fix them on a virgin?" Job 31:1.

Love Jesus more than his lusts:

"If you love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15.

“And verily I also count all things as loss, through the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; whereby I suffered the loss of all these things, and count them as dross, that I may gain Christ.” Philippians 3:8.

Love Justice:

"But thou, O man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness." 1 Timothy 6:11.

"Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied;" Matthew 5:6.

See sin when you are tempted to the useless, ugly and unbearably sinful:

"By which things the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience;." Colossians 3:6.

“You who love the Lord, hate evil. He guards the souls of his saints; he delivers them from the hands of the wicked.” Psalm 97:10.

Resist Satan in the time of temptation. Jesus shows us how we can do this: using the Word of God:

"Submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7.

“Then said Jesus unto him, Go thou, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him alone shalt thou serve.” Matthew 4:10.

Stay close to Jesus:

"... Because in what he himself, being tempted, he suffered, he can help those who are tempted." Hebrews 2:14-18.

"I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13.

Remember it is Christ who lives in you and you are already dead to sin! Sin has no dominion over you:

“So also count yourselves certainly dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Let not sin, therefore, reign in your mortal body, that ye may obey it in its lusts;." Romans 6:11-12.

"I'm already crucified with christ; and I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.

Little children, you are of God, and you have already overcome them; for greater is what is in you than what is in the world.” 1 John 4:4.

Pray! Go to the throne of grace for help (power to win) in your time of need - when you are tempted:

"For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law, but under grace." Romans 6:14.

"Let us therefore come with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace, that we may be helped in due time." Hebrews 4:16.

Follow Jesus' example:

“Who in the days of his flesh, offering, with great crying and tears, prayers and supplications to him who could deliver him from death, was heard as to what he feared. Even though he was a Son, he learned obedience, for what he suffered.” Hebrews 5:7.

Know that the battle is already won, if you hold out and resist the temptation to the end:

"Being assured of this very thing, that he that began a good work in you shall complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;" Philippians 1:6.

“Blessed is the man who suffers temptation; for when he is tried, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12.

Remember that victory leads to deeper fellowship with other believers. We fight for each other so that the body of Christ can be built:

“Be sober; watch; for the devil, your adversary, prowls around, roaring like a lion, seeking whom he may swallow; Whom you resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are fulfilled among your brothers in the world.” 1 Peter 5:8-9.

"...Choosing rather to be mistreated with God's people, than for a little while to enjoy sin." Hebrews 11:25.

📌Fear not in the Bible

Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue leader, "Don't be afraid; just believe."

Mark 5:36

     

So fear not, for I am with you;

do not be afraid, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will hold you

with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

     

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave them, he will never forsake them."

Deuteronomy 31:6

     

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:28

     

For I am the Lord, his God,

who holds him by the right hand

and tells you: Fear not; I will help you. Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob,

o little Israel,

for I will help you myself",

declares the Lord,

his Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 41:13-14

     

Didn't I order you? Be strong and brave! Don't be scared or discouraged, for the Lord, your God, will be with you wherever you walk."

Joshua 1:9

     

In that day they will say to Jerusalem:

"Fear not, O Zion;

don't let your hands weaken. The Lord, your God,

is in your midst,

powerful to save.

He will rejoice in you;

with his love he will renew it,

he will rejoice in you

with shouts of joy".

Zephaniah 3:16-17

     

You who bring good news to Zion,

climb a high hill.

You, who bring good news to Jerusalem,

raise your voice with loud screams,

lift it up, don't be afraid;

tell the cities of Judah:

"Here is your God!"

Isaiah 40:9

     

Fear not, O earth;

rejoice and rejoice.

The Lord has done great things!

Joel 2:21

     

After these things the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision:

"Don't be afraid, Abram!

I am your shield;

great will be your reward!"

Genesis 15:1

     

The prophet replied, "Don't be afraid. Those who are with us are more numerous than they." And Elisha prayed, "Lord, open his eyes to see." Then the Lord opened the boy's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha.

2 Kings 6:16-17

     

But the Lord told me, "Don't say you're too young. To all to whom I send you, you will go and tell you everything I command. Don't be afraid of them, for I'm with you to protect you "says the Lord.

Jeremiah 1:7-8

     

And you, son of man, don't be afraid of these people or their words. Don't be afraid, even if thorns surround you and you live among scorpions. Don't be afraid of what they say or be terrified to see them, even though they are a rebellious nation. You will speak my words to them, whether they hear it or not hear it, for they are rebels.

Ezekiel 2:6-7

     

But after he had thought about it, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for what was begotten in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 1:20

     

But the angel told him:

"Don't be afraid, Maria;

you were blessed by God!

Luke 1:30

     

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus' feet and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!"

Jesus told Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will be a fisher of men."

Luke 5:8

     

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Don't be afraid, keep talking and don't be silent, for I'm with you, and no one will harm you or hurt you, because I have many people in this city."

Acts of the Apostles 18:9-10

     

"Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The Devil will cast some of you into prison to try them, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful to the death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Revelation 2:10

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 DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A CHILD OF THE ETERNAL CREATOR?

Know that for this, only through the blood of Jesus Christ this is possible...

Keep the Bible passages below: They will be powerful keys in Jesus to strengthen his faith! And fight all the fiery darts of satan!

JOHN 1:12-14

12 But as many as received him, he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name;

13 Who were not born of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory, as the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

JOHN 5:22-32

22 And also the Father judgeth no man, but gave all judgment to the Son;

23 That all may honor the Son, as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son, does not honor the Father who sent him.

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, whoever hears my word and believes in him that sent me has eternal life, and shall not enter into condemnation, but has passed from death to life.

25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear it shall live.

26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he gave the Son also to have life in himself;

27 And he gave him power to exercise judgment, because he is the Son of man.

28 Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice.

29 And those who have done good shall come out into the resurrection of life; and those who did evil for the resurrection of damnation.

30 I can do nothing of myself. As I hear, so I judge; and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my will, but the will of the Father who sent me.

31 If I testify of myself, my testimony is not true.

32 There is another who testifies of me, and I know that the testimony he bears of me is true.

JOHN 6:37-48

37 All that the Father gives me will come to me; and what comes to me I will by no means cast away.

38 For I came down from heaven, not to do my will, but the will of him who sent me.

39 And the will of the Father who sent me is this: Let none of all those who gave me be lost, but that he raise him up at the last day.

40 For the will of him that sent me is this, That whoever sees the Son, and believes in him, may have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

41 And the Jews murmured about him, because he had said, I am the bread that came down from heaven.

42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then does he say: I came down from heaven?

43 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

44 No one can come to me, except the Father who sent me draw him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

45 It is written in the prophets: And they shall all be taught of God. Therefore, everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.

46 Not that anyone saw the Father, but he who is of God; this one has seen the Father.

47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth in me hath eternal life.

48 I am the bread of life.

JOHN 8:34-36

34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, whoever commits sin is a servant of sin.

35 Now the servant is not at home forever; the Son stays forever.

36 If, therefore, the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

JOHN 8:49-59

49 Jesus answered, I have no devil, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.

50 I do not seek my glory; there are those who seek it, and judge.

51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.

52 And the Jews said to him, Now we know that you have a devil. Abraham and the prophets died; and you say: If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.

53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And also the prophets died. Who do you make yourself be?

54 Jesus answered: If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing; it is my Father who glorifies me, who you say is your God.

55 And you do not know him, but I know him. And if I say I don't know him, I'll be a liar like you; but I know him and I keep his word.

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it, and he rejoiced.

57 Then said the Jews unto him, Are you not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?

58 Jesus saith unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

59 Then they took stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, passing through them, and thus withdrew.

JOHN 9:31-33

31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing, and does his will, he hears him.

32 Since the beginning of the world, no one has ever been heard to open the eyes of a man born blind.

33 If this one wasn't of God, nothing could be done.

JOHN 10:26-30

26 But you do not believe because you are not of my sheep, as I have already told you.

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me;

28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.

29 My Father, who gave me, is greater than all; and no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.

30 Me and the Father are one.

JOHN 11:25,26

25 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, though he is dead, will live;

26 And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?

JOHN 14:1-25

1 Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me.

2 In my Father's house are many mansions; otherwise, I would have told you. I will prepare a place for you.

3 And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will take you to myself, that wherever I am you may be also.

4 Even you know where I am going, and you know the way.

5 Thomas said unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.

7 If you knew me, you would also know my Father; and from now on you know him, and have seen him.

8 Philip said unto him, Lord, show us the Father, that is sufficient for us.

9 Jesus said to him, Have I been with you so long, and have you not known me, Philip? Whoever sees me sees the Father; and how do you say: Show us the Father?

10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not say from myself, but the Father, who is in me, is the one who does the works.

11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; believe me, at least, because of the same works.

12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth in me shall also do the works that I do, and shall do them greater than these, for I go unto my Father.

13 And whatever you ask in my name I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14 If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.

15 If you love me, keep my commandments.

16 And I will beseech the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, that he may be with you forever;

17 The Spirit of truth, which the world cannot receive, because it neither sees nor knows him; but you know him, because he dwells with you, and he will be in you.

18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come back to you.

19 Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more, but you will see me; for I live, and you shall live.

20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

21 He who has my commandments and keeps them is he who loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and manifest myself to him.

22 Judas (not Iscariot) said unto him, LORD, whence come that thou shalt manifest thyself to us, and not to the world?

23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; now the word you have heard is not mine, but the Father who sent me.

25 I have told you this, being with you.

JOHN 15:1-27

Continuation of the last instructions to the disciples - Intimate union between Jesus and the believers

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that bears no fruit, take it away; and cleanse all that bear fruit, that it may bear more fruit.

3 You are already clean by the word that I have spoken to you.

4 Be in me, and I in you; as the rod of itself cannot bear fruit if it is not in the vine, so also you if you are not in me.

5 I am the vine, you the branches; whoever is in me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; because without me you can do nothing.

6 If anyone is not in me, he will be cast out, like a rod, and wither; and they gather them and cast them into the fire, and they burn.

7 If you are in me, and my words are in you, you will ask for anything you want, and it will be done for you.

8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; and so will you be my disciples.

9 As the Father loved me, so have I loved you; remain in my love.

10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; just as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

11 I have told you this, that my joy may abide in you, and your joy may be full.

12 My commandment is this: That you love one another, just as I have loved you.

13 No one has a greater love than this, to give someone their life for their friends.

14 You will be my friends if you do what I command you.

15 I will no longer call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you, and named you, that you might go and bear fruit, and your fruit abiding; so that whatever in my name you ask the Father he may grant you.

17 This I command you: Love one another.

18 If the world hates you, know that it hated me first than you.

19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own, but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, that is why the world hates you.

20 Remember the word that he said unto you, The servant is not greater than his LORD. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also; if they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

21 But all this they will do to you because of my name, because they know not the one who sent me.

22 If I had not come, nor had I spoken to them, they would not have sinned, but now they have no excuse for their sin.

23 He who hates me hates my Father also.

24 If I had not done these works among them, which no one else has done, they would have no sin; but now they saw them and hated me and my Father.

25 But it is that the word which is written in their law may be fulfilled: They hated me without a cause.

26 But when the Comforter comes, whom I from the Father will send to you, that Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he will testify of me.

27 And ye shall also testify, for ye have been with me from the beginning.

JOHN 16:31-33

31 Jesus answered them, Do you believe now?

32 Behold, the hour is coming, and it is near, when you shall be scattered, each one to his part, and shall leave me alone; but I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

33 I have told you this, that you may have peace in me; in the world you will have afflictions, but be of good cheer, I have conquered the world.

I JOHN 2:1-17

1 My little children, these things I write unto you, that ye sin not; and if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.

Keeping the commandments. Brotherly love. separation from the world

3 And in this we know that we know him: if we keep his commandments.

4 He who says, I know him, and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and in him is not the truth.

5 But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is in him truly perfected; in this we know that we are in it.

6 He who says he is in him must also walk as he walked.

7 Brethren, I am not writing to you a new commandment, but the old commandment, which you had from the beginning. This ancient commandment is the word you have heard from the beginning.

8 Again I write to you a new commandment, which is true in him and in you; because darkness is passing away, and already the true light shines.

9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is even now in darkness.

10 He who loves his brother is in the light, and in him there is no offense.

11 But he that hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and knows not whither he should go; because darkness has blinded his eyes.

12 Little children, I write to you, for through his name your sins are forgiven you.

13 Fathers, I write to you, because you have known him who is from the beginning. Young people, I write to you, because you have conquered the evil one. I wrote to you, children, because you knew the Father.

14 I have written to you, fathers, because you have known him who he is from the beginning. I wrote to you, young people, because you are strong, and the word of God is in you, and you have already overcome the evil one.

15 Do not love the world, nor what is in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father's love is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but of the world.

17 And the world passes away, and its lust; but he who does the will of God remains forever.

I JOHN 2:28,29

28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he appears, we may have confidence, and not be confounded by him at his coming.

29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that whosoever doeth righteousness is born of him.

I JOHN 3:8,9

the children of God

8 Whoever commits sin belongs to the devil; because the devil sins from the beginning. For this the Son of God manifested himself: to undo the works of the devil.

9 Anyone born of God commits no sin; because his seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

I JOHN 4:10-18

10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we too must love one another.

12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God is in us, and his love is perfect in us.

13 In this we know that we are in him, and he in us, for he gave us of his Spirit.

14 And we saw, and testified that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God is in him, and he is in God.

16 And we know, and believe in the love that God has for us. God is love; and whoever is in love is in God, and God in him.

17 In this is love for us perfect, that in the day of judgment we may have confidence; because, which he is, we are also in this world.

18 In love there is no fear, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has with it pity, and what fears is not perfect in love.

I JOHN 5:1-21

Faith in Jesus and its consequences

1 EVERYONE that believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God; and whoever loves him who begat him also loves him who is born of him.

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments.

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not burdensome.

4 For everyone who is born of God conquers the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.

5 Who is it that conquers the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

6 This is the one who came by water and blood, that is, Jesus Christ; not just by water, but by water and blood. And the Spirit is what testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

7 For there are three that testify in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one.

8 And three are they that testify on earth: the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and these three agree on one.

9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that of his Son he testified.

10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of his Son.

11 And the testimony is this: that God has given us eternal life; and this life is in his Son.

12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe in the name of the Son of God.

The effectiveness of prayer

14 And this is the confidence we have in him, that if we ask anything, according to his will, he hears us.

15 And if we know that he listens to us in everything we ask, we know that we have reached the requests we asked of him.

16 If anyone sees his brother sin, a sin that is not unto death, he will pray, and God will give life to those who do not sin unto death. There is sin unto death, and for that I don't say pray.

17 All iniquity is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.

18 We know that everyone who is born of God does not sin; but what is begotten of God retains itself, and the evil one does not touch it.

19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is in the evil one.

20 And we know that the Son of God is already come, and has given us understanding that we may know what is true; and in what is true we are, that is, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

21 Little children, beware of idols. Amen.

PLEASE SHARE THESE TRUTHS WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW. THANKS.

THE TIME IS NOW!

2 Timothy 4:

1 Therefore I adjure thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead, at his coming and in his kingdom,

2 That you preach the word, urge in season and out of season, rebuke, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but, having itching in their ears, they will heap up for themselves doctors according to their own lusts;

4 And they will turn away their ears from the truth, returning to fables.

5 But you, be sober in everything, suffer afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

#thetimeandtoday #thetimeisnow #PregueaWord #pregueoevangelho #EMTEMPOEFORADETEMPO

 NOEMI: 3 TRACES OF MATURITY IN CHRISTIAN LIFE

NOEMI LOST HER SPOUSE, THEN HER TWO CHILDREN...

Charming, nice, smooth, sweet...

The name of the person I would like to talk about a little means all of these adjectives above, and his story teaches us to trust in the providence of a kind God.

Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law, begins to have her story told in the first chapter of the book of Ruth, within a context in which Bethlehem, where she lived, despite being known for the production of grapes, olive trees, wheat, among others, and, from literally meaning the “house of bread”, it was going through a period of famine. As a result, her husband Elimelech, she and her two sons decide to leave there and go to live in Moab, a pagan nation born from the incestuous relationship between Lot and his eldest daughter (Gen. 19:36-37).

After that, Naomi becomes a widow and her two children marry Moabite women: Ruth and Orpha. The Bible reports that Naomi dwelt in Moab for ten years, at which time she too lost her two children, becoming helpless.

Many of us can identify a lot with Naomi, can't we? We are living our lives and serving God normally, until the “hunger” comes over us, and then, instead of waiting and trusting in the Lord, we think that perhaps going to Moab is the best way. We take the reins of the situation and choose the fastest and easiest, even if it is a land cursed by God.

In the case of Naomi and her family it was really the shortage of food, and in ours? Is it the job we can't get? The wedding that never comes? Poor health? Will it be passing the course of dreams? Whatever it is, we can't go to Moab. That is, we cannot leave the place of God's blessing, the place of obedience to Him, together with His people, in order to seek supplies in other lands. Going to Moab is never the solution! As difficult as things are, let's stay in Bethlehem of Judah, stay in the promised land, that way we won't be helpless.

The story follows in verse 6 of chapter 1: "Then she arranged herself with her daughters-in-law and returned from the land of Moab, because in this she heard that the Lord had remembered her people, giving them bread." Here we see that God never forsakes us. At the right time, even after years of famine, He sent the bread and supplied the people. Even if years pass, dear reader, God will send the bread that will supply his need! Not only that, but just as Naomi decided to come back, so can you. If you ended up in Moab, don't be discouraged, you can come back! Remember that God is good, meets our needs, and it is worth returning to his presence and the safe territory of the Church.

When she decides to return, her two daughters-in-law want to accompany her, so she says: “(…) No daughters of mine! For because of you I am bitter that the Lord has laid his hand against me. Then again they cried aloud; Orpha, with a kiss, said goodbye to her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her” (Ruth 1:13b-14). At first, Naomi did not realize that the Lord had provided Ruth to take care of her and be taken care of by her. Young man, the Lord doesn't want you in Bethlehem of Judah just for positional reasons, but also purposeful. He wants to work on you, he wants to trust you with people, and, don't forget, he will also send people to look after you.

In chapter 2, we see that Ruth goes to pick ears in the field of Boaz, a wealthy relative of Elimelech, who comes to favor Ruth because he recognizes what she has done for her mother-in-law and because she left everything and went to join God and his people. Upon hearing her daughter-in-law's account of favoring Boaz, we see in Naomi's response the first trace of God's work in her life, when she says: “Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, Blessed be he of the Lord, who still he has not left his benevolence neither to the living nor to the dead. Naomi said to him more: This man is our close kinsman and one of our rescuers. Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, Ruth: It will be good, my daughter, that you go out with his maidservants, so that, in another field, they will not molest you.” (Rt 2:20 and 22)

Naomi now recognizes the Lord's provision in the figure of Boaz and knows he is a rescuer. Naomi also learned the lesson: she demonstrates trust in God's provision, and stays in the place where she can receive His blessing. So she instructs Ruth to stay with the servants of Boaz so that elsewhere she will not be molested. Now who rescued us? Boaz typifies the Lord Jesus! And being with his servants keeps us from being molested! Thanks to the Lord!

The second trait of God's working in Naomi's life is revealed in the opening verses of chapter 3 when Naomi, loving Ruth and wanting her to have a home to be happy, outlines a bold plan to be followed by Ruth, which consisted, in short, , in getting ready, going to Boaz, discovering his feet and waiting for what he said. With this second trait, we see the need to love the people who take care of us and those given to us to take care of.When we love people, we and they are blessed. Furthermore, we see that under God's blessing we are able to make plans that will be successful because He is with us! Making plans under God's blessing is a characteristic of those who are maturing.

The third and final trait of God's work in Naomi's life shows that the good work the Lord begins in us is completed. After Naomi's plan is fulfilled, Boaz tells Ruth that he has a rescuer in front of him and that he will go to him so that if he refuses to rescue, he can do it. When reporting such an episode to her mother-in-law, we wisely have: "Then Naomi said to her: Wait, my daughter, until you know where things will happen, because that man will not rest until this case is resolved today" (Rt 3 :18). Here we see that Naomi trusted the people who were close to her and saw his plans fulfilled to the end.

What a growth the Lord wrought in sweet Naomi's life! If before she left Bethlehem of Judah for not waiting and trusting in God's providence, now, as a grown daughter, she not only waited (and told Ruth to wait too) but also trusted that Boaz would not rest until he did. resolve that situation.

And do you know what happens in the end? Ruth and Boaz marry and beget a son, Obed and the Bible reports: “Then the women said to Naomi, May the Lord be blessed, who has not failed to give you today a grandson who will be your ransom, and be famous in Israel the name of this. He will be the restorer of your life and the comforter of your old age, for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, gave birth to him, and she is better for you than seven children”.

Dear reader, our God is the I Am! He is the God who provides! In our lives we will go through periods of famine, when the land is dry, but we can learn, like mature Naomi, that the best thing is to wait and trust in the Lord; He uses the difficulties and ease of life to deal with us. He is our rescuer, and does not rest until he has fully supplied us.

Naomi came back bitter, but was rescued, not just from her financial situation, but from her shattered spiritual state. She is now recognized as a grandmother, has a descendant, and ends the story happily. The Lord worked in it with his providence. Young man, the Lord rescues not only your exterior, but your interior as well. God's work in her gave her, as a delight, Obed. God's work in us will give us, as a delight, Christ and His Kingdom! Hallelujah!