Hebrews 13:8

Consider the following names for a moment: Roosevelt. Truman. Eisenhower. Kennedy. Johnson. Nixon. Ford. Carter. Reagan. Bush. Clinton. Bush. Obama.

Chances are good that when you hear these names, you don’t just think of presidents of the United States and the history of our country. It’s very likely that some of those names trigger in your mind your own personal history – chapters from your own personal past. One president might remind you of your childhood. Another might remind you of high school. Another might remind you of your first apartment or your first full-time job.

And now here you are. 2010. Think of the changes from your past. The rhythm of your life is different. Your car is different. The headlines are different. The TV shows are different. The music on the radio is different. Your physical appearance is different. Perhaps your health is different too.

This reality underscores what God’s Word has been saying all along. After all, God’s Word makes it pretty clear that our temporary life on this earth is full of temporary things that are constantly changing.

But that’s all right. For peace and contentment in life, we don’t need the headlines or the music or even our health to remain the same. We just need Jesus to remain the same.

And he does. And he will.

Ruth 2:21-23

FAMILY

Boaz was very kind and provided for Naomi and Ruth. He told Ruth to keep gathering grain in his fields, working near his own servants. Naomi was quick to see that this would also help to insure Ruth's safety. This was, after all, a foreign country to Ruth. And with Ruth working in Boaz’ fields, this close relative of Naomi would be reminded of the honor and obligation of a kinsman-redeemer (verse 20), to care for the widows and to buy the land of their late husbands so that it could be passed on to their sons and grandsons.

Ruth continued to work faithfully in the field of Boaz until both the barley and wheat harvests were finished – a period of about two months. There was plenty of time for their relationship to grow. Yet during this time, Ruth lived with and cared for her mother-in-law as Naomi got older. Ruth respected Naomi and obeyed her, just as God commands in the Fourth Commandment that we honor our fathers and mothers.

Our parents never stop being our parents. We may move out of the house. We may start having families of our own and become parents ourselves. But our parents always deserve our respect, love and care. Used as a guide in our lives of faith and done out of love for Christ and our heavenly Father, we are reminded that applications of the Fourth Commandment can be found at all stages of ours and our parents’ lives.