Lord, I am Willing

Ruth 2: 2-3

“2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.” Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” 3 So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech.”

There is a hymn entitled “Lord I Am Willing” in which the refrain says:

"Lord, I am willing ever to be, Useful in service only for Thee; So take and use me, imperfect still, Save as I strive to follow Thy will."

Ruth was willing; willing to follow Naomi to a foreign country; willing to work in the fields for their survival; and willing to sacrifice for the love of another.  She was not perfect, by any means, but she was willing, and she served gladly.

God has plans for us, and most of those plans require us to be willing to walk in faith; willing to roll up our sleeves and work in less than ideal conditions; willing to love when it makes no sense; and willing to make sacrifices that deny self but glorify God.  

God is not expecting us to be perfect in His service.  

But we do have to be willing to serve, and to serve with a glad heart.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)