Top X July 22, 2025 Devotional

RUTH 1:16-17 | ¹⁶But Ruth said, 'Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. ¹⁷ Where you die, I will die—there will I be buried. May the Lord do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!

Our dignity is defined by our possibility, not our biology. Sexual desire is a biological reality we all have, unless we suffer from a   dysfunction of a physical, emotional, or mental kind. But loving pleasure of any kind is easy. But we also share a deeper possibility: that we will learn to love promise keeping and faithfulness. Unless we do, we won’t be able to love other people without damage and heartbreak. Now the bigger the promise and longer the timeframe, the harder it is to keep. Unconditional promises like those made at weddings are for a lifetime and are made independently of the circumstances. We vow to be faithful in sickness and health, in poverty and success, in joy and in sorrow. Keeping these promises to love and be faithful drives us to prayer and faith, so we can be in touch with the Faithful One, who is the source of love.

Have you ever made a promise like Ruth’s?

Gracious God,

Help me to live promise keeping and faithfulness. In a transactional, pleasure seeking world, build my heart and character to reflect Your loyal love.

Amen.