The "Just Happeneds"
Attending an Adult Class on Sunday morning at our church is really a treat for me. Besides the fellowship in a smaller setting, I have a chance to listen to gifted teachers. Currently, I am in Don Westerberg’s class where he is teaching on the book of Ruth. He is very knowledgeable and shares many nuggets from Scripture that challenge me to think and ponder how it can impact my life.
Two Sundays ago Don shared from chapter two of Ruth, which says, “Now Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.’ And she said to her, ‘Go, my daughter.’ So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz who was of the clan of Elimelech.”
Don shared that the phrase “she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz” stood out to him. Did she just happen to enter that part of the field belonging to Boaz? As my husband, Doug, and I reflected on the lesson we started sharing all the “just happened” circumstances in our lives. Where is God in the “just happened” circumstance, the good and the bad?
Don shared that he grew up in Pittsburgh where there are two rivers that flow into the Ohio river. As he drew an illustration of this on the white board, he said that one river can represent our human choices and the other river represent God’s sovereignty - God’s part as He guides and walks with us. Together, the two rivers concurrently flow into one river and therefore become the new river, the Ohio river.
I really liked that illustration of the two rivers flowing into one because it shows that God is concurrently involved in all of our choices. I have made choices that I regret and had to ask forgiveness but He allowed it to flow into a new river. As I repent of my ways, God is there to help me navigate those decisions. I have also made many choices that have had a huge impact to the good in my life. What events, or choices, like Ruth, “just happened” in your life? What choices can you make today that together with God’s help and direction can flow into a “new river”?
If you haven’t had the chance to be a part of a Sunday morning class, I invite you to attend either Dick Middlebrooks class on the book of Hebrews or Don Westerberg’s class on the book of Ruth. Also, beginning January 15, Tim Jorgens will be teaching a class on Christianity 101. I hope you are able to attend this new class or invite someone that is asking questions about Christianity or is new in the faith.