Getting Noticed

Getting Noticed

Words of Faith 1-18-18

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2018

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Ruth 2

     [4] Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, "The Lord be with you!"   "The Lord bless you!" they called back. [5] Boaz asked the foreman of his harvesters, "Whose young woman is that?"   [6] The foreman replied, "She is the Moabitess who came back from Moab with Naomi. [7] She said, 'Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.' She went into the field and has worked steadily from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter."

       There is something inside us from the time we are little children that wants to be noticed. Whether a struggling artist hoping to be "discovered" or a child trying to get attention, we hope to be noticed and affirmed. We probably wonder sometimes if God notices us. Does God notice who I am? All the hard work and effort I put in? Does God notice the dreams and gifts I have? The special thoughts that I have and share?

       Boaz noticed Ruth. "Who is THAT?" he asked. Actually Boaz was even more direct: "Whose is she?"   He was interested! Ruth must have been very lovely to attract such attention.   But as we get to know Ruth in the Word we also realize that she must have had a delightful countenance and something far deeper than outward beauty. There was something in her spirit that caused Boaz to take notice. How did she gain that attention? Really just by being faithful.

       Ruth sought to fulfill her commitment to Naomi. She humbly asked for a place to glean, and she worked steadily. Boaz noticed. Boaz was a man of wealth and influence. He could have had the attention of any woman in the town. But Boaz took notice of this very special woman, quietly, faithfully gleaning in the field so to provide for her family.

         Sometimes the place where God takes notice looks pretty boring and humbling to us.   God noticed Moses not when he was crusading to protect a fellow Hebrew but when he was faithfully tending a flock. God noticed David when others had gone to fight and he was faithfully protecting his sheep. Jesus noticed some fishermen not at a divinity school graduation, but while they were tediously mending some wet nets. Jesus noticed a tax collector who paid great attention to detail, as he sat faithfully at a tax collection stand.

       Of course, Moses would one day shepherd two million people in the desert, David watched over a nation, the sons of Zebedee went on to fish for men and mend churches, and Levi was the perfect Gospel writer! Even the life of Jesus started with 30 years of rather mundane preparation in a carpentry shop before public ministry began. God always takes notice of the faithful.

         Do you sometimes wonder if God will notice you? Do you wonder why God seems to have led you to something that is fairly mundane? God is watching. God is noticing. Be faithful. God notices the faithful. We don't have to draw special attention to ourselves. We don't have to be self-promoting. We just need to be faithful. The one that is faithful with a little is put in charge of much.

         Lord, give me strength to do exactly what You have called me to this day. I want only to be faithful. I trust You for today and for all the tomorrows. In Jesus' name. Amen.