Daily Reading: 13 November

(from www.christianaid.org.uk)

God gave us two ears and one mouth

Something to read

She came to her mother-in-law, who said, “How did things go with you, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her.

- Ruth 3:16 from full reading Ruth 3.14-4:6.

Something to think about

Ruth shows herself as being prepared to be humbled and make herself vulnerable for the sake of her mother-in-law. It was no small thing to go the threshing floor and lie down at the feet of Boaz.

Are we prepared to humble ourselves and make ourselves vulnerable for the sake of others?

It’s easy to give out of strength and abundance; to give what we can afford to spare. But it’s no small thing to receive help from others, help that should come from love not condescension, treated with respect and care.

Even in our mission, we want to go out as wolves among lambs rather in the humility and vulnerability of lambs among wolves.

No matter how long I have been a Christian, I need to be teachable, willing to learn from others, including those who are outside of my style of Christianity. God gave us two ears and one mouth as a usual arrangement – it says something about the ratio with which I should use them.

Something to do

Listen to a friend today. Try not to interrupt or offer your own reflections, just listen deeply to their concerns.

Something to pray

Gracious God, as Ruth chose to go to a place of humility, may I find such a place of openness this day. Please help me to be teachable, not closed to new ideas and opportunities.

Today’s contributor is the Rev Stuart Davison, who at the time of writing, is the regional minister and team leader for the South Eastern Baptist Association