Oct 11, 2018
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#RuthChallenge [4]
Ruth 4 Galatians 3:23-25
YOU HAVE BEEN REDEEMED!
The story of Ruth is a representation of how we are redeemed by Christ and not the law. The ‘guardian redeemer’ refused to take the land and Ruth because she was a Moabite, a gentile, someone considered to be separate from God’s people. He had every right to, as he was simply going by the ‘law’. BUT, the law didn’t stop Ruth from being redeemed. Boaz was there and READY to take Ruth just as she was. Regardless of her background, he wanted her. I don’t see his motive for doing so being anything other than true LOVE!
There were ten elders who were called to witness two things. Firstly, they witnessed that the closer relative couldn’t redeem Ruth and secondly, they witnessed that Boaz could. These ten elders represent The Ten Commandments to show us that the law itself cannot save, but they lead us to the one who can. The law was put in charge to lead us to Christ showing that He is the only one that could save us, so that we might be justified by faith.
The story of Ruth foreshadows the glorious act of salvation to be told in the New Testament. It shows the beautiful exchange that Christ made. His law is perfect, but because of the love He had for us (because of the love Boaz had for Ruth) He decided to save us when the law could no longer save us and when we couldn’t save ourselves.
GOD TURNS THINGS AROUND
Naomi went from a bitter woman to a blessed mother in Israel. It started with bitterness, but ended with smiling. We’ve seen how Ruth’s life totally turned around. She went from a widowed gentile, far from God, to becoming a mother in a generational line that would not only produce King David, but would one day give to the world their Redeemer, Jesus.
This story isn’t just about Ruth, Naomi and Boaz. It is also about our relationship with Jesus and our redemption! You might be feeling like Naomi - bitter at God. Or like Ruth - far from the knowledge of the true God. Even if you are as far away as they were, this story shows us that God can turn things around and make something, out of nothing…and God loves to make a ‘somebody’, out of a ‘nobody.’
RuthChallenge [3]
Ruth 3 Matthew 5:13-16 Naomi was playing cupid in this chapter. She wanted the best for her daughter in-law and she had faith in Boaz to look after her, not just because of His wealth, but because of his character. THE PREPARATION PERIOD & WISE COUNSEL Similar to Esther, Ruth had to prepare before meeting the one she desired to call her husband. In this, we learn that we have to prepare before seeking the things that we ‘desire’ because it is in our preparation that we will truly know whether it is worth seeking after. This goes for anything in life, albeit Godly relationships or good grades; they all require preparation and sometimes an elder like Naomi to give advice. I say SOMETIMES, because Naomi’s advice was questionable. She essentially instructed Ruth to do anything Boaz asked her to do…which could have been A-N-Y-THING! Praise God it wasn’t, but it shows how careful we have to be with any advice we’ve received. We must remember to evaluate the advice received from another by considering their relationship with God. Naomi’s spiritual condition in chapter one is far from encouraging. By her own confession, she is bitter and accused God of being harsh with her. THINK: Is the counsel I’ve been given based on Scripture, or is it the fallible opinion of the adviser? GODLY CONDUCT IN COMPROMISING SITUATIONS We all probably read this chapter thinking, ‘I hope they don’t do what they shouldn’t do’, but Boaz and Ruth remained Godly in a situation that could have turned into something else. They displayed their strength of character! This reassures us that Godly character can be evident in ungodly settings. We live in a time where ungodliness is everywhere, but we need to be that light, a light that leaves no room for darkness. BOAZ IS THE STANDARD FOR YOU MEN It takes a strong God-fearing man to stand firm in the situation Boaz was in. Guys, this is the standard for you. You should be the moral leader who protects the purity and reputation of the women you associate yourself with. This is what real manhood is about. Your Ruth will come. Likewise, ladies please don’t compromise yourself or God’s standards to get attention from a guy. Let the attention you receive from any man, be attention that stems from your inner beauty, character and virtue. Your Boaz will come.
#RuthChallenge [2]
IT IS GOOD TO SERVE Ruth is an embodiment of the virtuous woman described in Proverbs 31. She worked with eager hands (Proverbs 31:13). She provided food for her family; by giving the leftover she received from Boaz to Naomi (Proverbs 31:15). Ruth was not sitting around waiting to be served, she was joyfully willing to serve and do what it takes to contribute. Are you doing the same? Think of various ways you can serve in all that you do; albeit in school, college, university, church, youth groups, anywhere. Your service should come from a place of humility, not to get credit from anyone but purely from a desire to serve as a Child of God! LIKE RUTH, STAY IN YOUR FIELD AND BE FAITHFUL WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN PLANTED Remain where God has placed you. Don’t stray away from the field that God has put you in for this season just to go into another field where you will be out of His will (Ruth 2:8-9). There are dangers to jumping fields without instruction, as Boaz emphasised to Ruth in this chapter. In the same way, God wants you to stay in your God-assigned field to keep you from harm. Have you ever taken yourself to an ungodly setting and felt uneasy? That’s God saying…get out of there and run into My Presence. Some of us are confused about the field God has placed us in. Believe that your presence in church, school, in your family and your friendship groups, all of these ‘fields’ mean a lot to God. So, serve with excellence in these areas of your life and beyond – as if you were working directly for God. (Ephesians 6:7) LADIES: WAIT FOR YOUR BOAZ The Boaz kind of guy is a man that hears about your good works and completely favours you because he sees that you are a woman of virtue, a diligent worker, beautiful and of great worth. Boaz heard excellent things about Ruth; she wasn’t a ‘ratchet’ woman or ‘bad b-word’. She represented herself well and her actions were a reflection of her virtuous nature. A man that truly appreciates your all round WORTH is a man worthy of your service and submission.
#RuthChallenge [1]
Ruth 1
Elimelech and Naomi originally lived in Bethlehem but left because there was a great famine. They relocated to Moab with their two sons who married Moabite women; Orpah and Ruth. Unfortunately, Elimelech and his sons died, leaving three widows. Naomi decided that she would return back to Bethlehem after spending 10 years in Moab. She told her daughter in-laws to go back to their fathers’ house and remarry. Orpah left, but Ruth pleaded with her to stay.
TRUST GOD OR RUN?
Elimelech and Naomi were in a tough situation, faced with two options; to trust God or to run…they chose the latter. It was a decision that cost Elimelech and his two sons their lives. We read that they left Bethlehem (which means ‘the place of bread’) in Judah (‘praise’) to go to Moab (meaning: ‘what father?’). The meaning of Moab gives us an insight into Elimelech’s state of mind. He doubted the love, provision and fatherhood of God and chose to step out of where God had placed Him.
AN EXAMPLE OF TRUE CONVERSION
Orpah said she would stay with Naomi, but decided it wasn’t for her and left. Sadly, this is what happens with many ‘Christians’ today. They come to the Lord at countless ‘alter-calls’ but where are they a few days later? Or they may stay for a while, springing up quickly like the word says, yet when persecution or hardship comes like thorns encroaching ones growth, they leave the faith for a more ‘comfortable’ life. But Ruth, she stayed. In Ruth we see an awesome example of true conversion. Even when others around her departed, Ruth stood her ground.
Unshaken, not consumed by the thorns of life, she says in my favourite verses of this chapter (16-17), “…Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”
Having counted the cost Ruth was willing to give up everything she knew and loved to follow Naomi, and Naomi’s God. A gentile becoming one of God’s own by CHOICE – have you made yours? Will you still trust God in the hard times?