Sunday, March 4, 2018
Hey Everyone!
We recently realized that we would all read through the book of Ruth this weekend and wouldn't have a chance to respond to each other about the messages that God placed in Ruth for each of us. We just could not let this wonderful story of Ruth pass us by, for this not just a biblical love story but a story of character, loyalty, sacrifice, and redemption.
Here is a bit of background…
In the times of Judges, Ruth, daughter in-law to Naomi, finds herself having to make a life-changing choice. Does she leave, Naomi, a widow like herself, to go back to her home - a place of comfort, ease, surety, or does she join Naomi and return to Naomi's home - Bethlehem- to an unknown place and future? Ruth chose to be loyal and loving to her mother-in-law and to commit to Naomi's God—the One True God. Naomi and Ruth return and Ruth works in the fields of Boaz to provide food for them both. Boaz notices her, and through the laws concerning widows, redeems Ruth for himself. They marry. Why is this story and this marriage so important that God placed it in His Word? The great-grandson of Boaz and Ruth was none other than the most famous and loved ruler of Israel, King David (Ruth 4:21-22), and this meant that Ruth was in the ancestral line of the Messiah, Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1, 5).
There are lessons here for us. We can see how blessings and the guidance of God can be given to us even when we are living through a most difficult time. Ruth, committed her life to helping Naomi and as a result, was blessed by God for her faithfulness.
~ Lesson 1: God notices people of good character...
"All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came into being," declares the LORD. "But this is the one to whom I will look favorably: to the one who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who trembles at my message." (Isaiah 66:2 NIV)
We may at times think that God is only watching the really important people of this world, but the story of Ruth tells us that God is not impressed with our wealth, fame or power. He is most impressed with the quality of our character.
~ Lesson 2: All that is good and worthy will come to us if we are patient and devote ourselves to doing what is right in God's eyes...
“Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in.” (Galatians 6:9 AMP)
We can be confident that if we do not see all His blessings in this life, we will certainly see them in the time to come…and the blessings will be beyond anything we can imagine! Ruth could not have imagined what was to come!
~ Lesson 3: God uses little "things" and little "people" to accomplish His great plans. God intended Ruth to be part of His plan...He set things to happen that were to bring Ruth into the lineage of Jesus-His great plan of salvation! No one is unimportant in God's eyes...
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)
~ Lesson 4: God has a Redeemer willing and able to rescue us from the destruction of our own sin...
Just as Boaz was Ruth's "redeemer" and rescued her, God has a Redeemer for our lives…His Son Jesus. After she lost everything and returned to Bethlehem, Naomi was without hope and had nothing of her own. We, in our sin, are empty and without hope spiritually. But Jesus is willing to redeem us! He wants to rescue us from the penalty of our sin - separation from God for all eternity. All we need to do is call on Him in faith and ask Him to save us...
For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord [in prayer] will be saved.” (Romans 10:13 Amp)
I pray that if Jesus has not "redeemed" you, you will call on Him right now and ask Him to save you once and for all from the consequences of your sins.
Have a precious and blessed day today!