There is Power in the Name of Jesus
If you could pick any name or title for yourself, what would you choose and why?
What stood out to you most from the message?
Think of a time or a situation where you felt vulnerable. How did you respond?
How can you see yourself in Ruth or relate to her? Is there someone else in the story you identify with more?
What or who’s name do you carry right now? What meaning does that name carry?
Read Proverbs 18:10 What makes it difficult to believe in the protective power of the Lord’s name?
What’s one step you can take this week to live as a child of God, someone who carries His name?
Let’s end with prayer. You can say something like, “Jesus, thank you for being our kinsman-redeemer. For being willing to pay the price to redeem us. For loving us. Give us the strength and the courage to protect the vulnerable the way you protected us. Amen.”
Everyone deals with feeling alone or vulnerable on some level. Yet, vulnerability in the Bible is depicted not as a fault or a weakness, but as a means by which we can develop and strengthen our relationship with God. We see this through stories of orphans and widows in the Bible – particularly in the book of Ruth. People who have not only lost their loved ones, but their name. No matter who you are, God is clear: he wants to adopt you into his family and give you his name. Once named, the vulnerable are protected, the weak can be strong, and the lonely find family.