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Third Sunday before Advent
First Lesson
Ruth 1:1-17
1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that
there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem-judah
went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and
his two sons.
2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his
wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion,
Ephrathites of Bethlehem-judah. And they came into the country
of Moab, and continued there.
3 And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her
two sons.
4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of
the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled
there about ten years.
5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman
was left of her two sons and her husband.
6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return
from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of
Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them
bread.
7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and
her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to
return unto the land of Judah.
8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each
to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have
dealt with the dead, and with me.
9 The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the
house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up
their voice, and wept.
10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto
thy people.
11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with
me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be
your husbands?
12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to
have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have
an husband also tonight, and should also bear sons;
13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay
for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth
me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out
against me.
14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah
kissed her mother-in-law; but Ruth clave unto her.
15 And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto
her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister-in-law.
16 And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return
from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go;
and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my
people, and thy God my God:
17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried:
the LORD do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part
thee and me.
1st Lesson Questions -
Ruth 1:1-17 When Ruth, a Gentile, expressed her loyalty to Naomi and promised that Naomi’s God would be her God (V. 16), she unwittingly set in motion a series of events that led to her becoming an ancestor of Jesus Christ, thus bringing the Gentiles into God’s plan of salvation. Do I fully trust in God’s providential care and plan for me even when I cannot see the larger picture or when my prospects – like Ruth’s – seem bleak? RESOLVE.
Second Lesson
Colossians 3:5-11
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication,
uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness,
which is idolatry:
6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children
of disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy,
filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old
man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge
after the image of him that created him:
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision,
Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in
all.
2nd Lesson Questions -
Colossians 3:5-11 Do I routinely examine myself, particularly before receiving Holy Communion, to ensure that I have “put off” the behaviors and attitudes expressed in verses 8 and 9? RESOLVE.