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b'The Book of Ruth is known for the loving relationship between Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi. But while these two women demonstrate both love and unity, there were barriers that Ruth and Naomi had to cross along the way. Looking at how they crossed these barriers can help us get a picture of how Jesus crossed every barrier to live in union with us. Now we, His church, can embody this unity with each other. Let\\u2019s take a look!\\nThe Family Barrier: Ruth and Naomi were related by marriage\\u2014they didn\\u2019t grow up in the same household. Their backgrounds and families were different. Like many of today\\u2019s blended households, they had to decide to think of one another as family. Naomi took the lead in this; in Ruth 1:11-13, she called Ruth and Orpah her daughters. Naomi saw them not as outsiders but as her own flesh and blood. Naomi\\u2019s inclusion of Ruth allowed them both to cross over the family barrier. Similarly, in Christ, we are God\\u2019s children (Romans 8:14-17)!\\nThe Cultural Barrier: Naomi was Jewish, and Ruth was a Moabite. Their respective countries were enemies, and their cultures were very different. But Ruth desired to be part of God\\u2019s people, and she embraced Naomi\\u2019s faith. This pictures the unity God\\u2019s people experience in Christ. We were enemies with God, but through Jesus\\u2019 death and resurrection, we can live in unity with Him (Romans 5:9-11). Jesus has broken down cultural barriers\\u2014and it\\u2019s a good thing too. Cultural diversity makes the body of Christ richer and should not be a barrier to love.\\nThe Age Barrier: Ruth and Naomi were a generation apart, but their bond could not have been closer. And we can see that Jesus doesn\\u2019t look down on young people either. He even welcomes children to Himself (Mark 10:13-16). In the church, cross-generational relationships can benefit old and young. Like Ruth and Naomi, age differences should be no barrier to love.\\nRuth and Naomi give us an example of how God\\u2019s love makes it possible for us to cross barriers to bring unity and understanding. And we can look to Jesus, who crossed every barrier to make a way for us to live in relationship with God and one another in perfect love and unity. \\u2022 Laura N. Sweet\\n\\u2022 Does it seem easier to love people who are like you? Why may this be true?\\n\\u2022 How do family, cultural, and age differences actually deepen and enrich our relationships?\\n\\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Where you go I [Ruth] will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d Ruth 1:16b (NIV)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\nJohn 3:1-21; 8:31-59; Romans 8:38-39; Romans 10:9-13'