Beyond The Kiss

Ruth 1:8-9 “But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back to your mothers’ homes. And may the Lord reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me. May the Lord bless you with the security of another marriage.” Then she kissed them good-bye…”

Orpah stuck with Naomi even beyond the death of her husband, Naomi’s son. And that is extremely commendable. To think that such a person still will not make it to

 the promised land, to the land of more is scary. Scary in the sense that you need to check, am I a kisser or am I a cleaver? Orpah went beyond the place of death, death had done them part. But she still stood with her mother-in-law. Not only did she stand with her mother-in-law, but she also embarked on a journey with her. This shows that she was way beyond fair weather. But kissers, when they are persuaded enough, will turn their back.

When they open the spreadsheet, check the numbers, and do the math they will say, “I have tried for this woman”. And they will kiss the person goodbye. Cleavers, on the other hand, go beyond the kiss and stick to the journey to the end. I pray that the God of heaven will find you worthy and you will stick to your journey till the end in the Name of Jesus. It is important to note that both kisses and cleavers have good intentions. In other words, you can set off on the right path with good intentions, and still not get to the destination. I pray for you that you will get to your destination. That you will get to that great place that God has for you in the Name of Jesus. Both kissers and cleavers have good intentions. But good intentions are not enough for you to get to that place that God has for you. Good intentions are simply not enough! 

Ruth 1:9 “…they all broke down and wept.” (emphasis added). Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah broke down and wept and it was not crocodile tears. Betrayers mostly have crocodile tears. Fair-weather friends sometimes have crocodile tears. But kissers and cleavers do not have crocodile tears. Ruth 1:10 “No,” they said. “We want to go with you to your people.” What the ladies were saying to Naomi is, “We are committed to this journey to greatness. We are committed to that destiny, to that large place that God has for us. We want to go with you.” While cleavers go beyond the kiss into the mix, kissers do not go beyond the kiss. 

The kiss represents so many things. It represents the moment where you are given permission, you are given the blessing, you are given the prayers, you are given the love and affection, and you are released. That moment when the logical thing to do is to turn your back and go, abandon that journey. So, you give yourself a pat on the back and say, “Come on, you have tried, you have done well. You are not a betrayer or even a fair-weather friend. You stuck through it”. But cleavers go beyond the kiss into the mix of their destiny, into all that God has for them. 

Prayer: Father, I ask for the grace to stick to my journey till I get to the destination You have mapped out for me. And that You will find me worthy, in Jesus Name. Amen!