“So she gleaned in the field until even.” — Ruth 2:17

Let me learn from Ruth, the gleaner. As she went out to gather the ears of corn, so must I go forth into the fields of prayer, meditation, the ordinances, and hearing the word to gather spiritual food. The gleaner gathers her portion ear by ear; her gains are little by little: so must I be content to search for single truths, if there be no greater plenty of them. Every ear helps to make a bundle, and every gospel lesson assists in making us wise unto salvation. The gleaner keeps her eyes open: if she stumbled among the stubble in a dream, she would have no load to carry home rejoicingly at eventide. I must be watchful in religious exercises lest they become unprofitable to me; I fear I have…

lost much already — O that Imay rightly estimate my opportunities, and glean with greater diligence.The gleaner stoops for all she finds, and so must I. High spirits criticizeand object, but lowly minds glean and receive benefit. A humble heart is agreat help towards profitably hearing the gospel. The engrafted soul-savingword is not received except with meekness. A stiff back makes a badgleaner; down, master pride, thou art a vile robber, not to be endured for amoment. What the gleaner gathers she holds: if she dropped one ear tofind another, the result of her day’s work would be but scant; she is ascareful to retain as to obtain, and so at last her gains are great. How oftendo I forget all that I hear; the second truth pushes the first out of my head,and so my reading and hearing end in much ado about nothing! Do I feelduly the importance of storing up the truth? A hungry belly makes thegleaner wise; if there be no corn in her hand, there will be no bread on hertable; she labours under the sense of necessity, and hence her tread isnimble and her grasp is firm; I have even a greater necessity, Lord, help meto feel it, that it may urge me onward to glean in fields which yield soplenteous a reward to diligence.

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Producer: Todd Adkins
Voice Artist: Ian Cullen