Living by the Book/Living by the Book Workbook Set (143 page)

S
ome people speak of the book of Ruth as if it’s simply a cute Old Testament love story. Would your study confirm this, or have you found more to the book than you originally assumed?

This is the final day we’re devoting to the book of Ruth, although you should feel free to continue your study as long as you wish. And perhaps you’ll begin to notice things in your life that send you back to this text on a regular basis from now on.

For this final assignment, devote some time to any life-change aspects of this Bible book. Think of the spiritual challenges you are facing and the things you would like to improve about yourself. Then consider how, if at all, the book of Ruth might speak to those things. Perhaps the Ruth text will remind you of other Scripture that is more applicable to your situation. But whatever you decide to do today, remember that no Bible study is complete until you have applied it to your own life in some way.

I
t shouldn’t take long to notice that reading the book of James is quite different from reading the book of Ruth. Not only is it a New Testament book rather than an Old Testament one, but the style and purpose are quite different.

Begin your study by reading the book straight through. Read thoughtfully. Remember to approach a new section of Scripture as a detective. Your intent today should be to cover the whole “scene,” but be sure to make mental notes of things you want to come back to and check out more closely. Also jot down questions you will want to answer during the next month as you study this passage more closely.

Initial Observations