He is our Redeemer!

SCRIPTURE



Ruth 3:14-4:6 (NRSV)

The widow's next of kin receive her

So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before one person could recognize another; for he said, "It must not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor." Then he said, "Bring the cloak you are wearing and hold it out." So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley, and put it on her back; then he went into the city. She came to her mother-in-law, who said, "How did things go with you, my daughter?" Then she told her all that the man had done for her, saying, "He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said, 'Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.'" She replied, "Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest, but will settle the matter today."

No sooner had Boaz gone up to the gate and sat down there than the next-of-kin, of whom Boaz had spoken, came passing by. So Boaz said, "Come over, friend; sit down here." And he went over and sat down. Then Boaz took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, "Sit down here"; so they sat down. He then said to the next-of-kin, "Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our kinsman Elimelech. So I thought I would tell you of it, and say: Buy it in the presence of those sitting here, and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not, tell me, so that I may know; for there is no one prior to you to redeem it, and I come after you." So he said, "I will redeem it." Then Boaz said, "The day you acquire the field from the hand of Naomi, you are also acquiring Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead man, to maintain the dead man's name on his inheritance." At this, the next-of-kin said, "I cannot redeem it for myself without damaging my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it."


DEVOTION

I absolutely love it when God takes a miserable defeat and turns it into a great victory! In yesterday’s good news blog we celebrated Ruth’s courage in choosing to go with God into an unknown future, rather than turning back to what was comfortable and familiar.

As a reward of her great faithfulness to God and to Naomi, God redeems Ruth’s situation by causing her to find favor with Boaz, who becomes her kinsman-redeemer.

Ruth needed a hero. She needed someone to see the hope and faith which was ablaze in her and to love her in return. She needed someone to “redeem” her situation and to help her to recover the love and security that she had lost when her first husband died.

God raised up Boaz to do just that! Aren’t you glad that even in the most miserable situations God has a good plan not to harm us, but to give us a future and a hope?

Because Ruth was faithful, God used Boaz to restore her good fortunes. And God used their union to produce a child who would ultimately share the lineage of King David and King Jesus!

Jesus would become the world’s kinsman-redeemer. All of humanity was drowning in sin and failure. But God’s love would not let us go! Instead Love gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life.

Every day, I thank God for Jesus who was willing and able to atone for our sin and to reconcile our relationship with God!

As we walk with God, even into the most uncertain of futures, we can be sure and very sure that God has nothing but our good in mind!

If God did not spare Jesus, but gave Him up for all of us, why would God withhold any other good gift that we truly need?

Today, will you put all of your hope in Jesus to redeem your sin and failure and help you to emerge in victory? If so, please pray with me:

God, thank you that you are the ultimate redeemer! I believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose again on the third day. Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I will be enabled and equipped to share the good news that Jesus saves and he saves to the utmost! I am excited to put all of my hope in Jesus and I can’t wait to share this news with others. I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.


SPECIAL NOTE

If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, today, you are saved! Let me encourage you to tell a Christian friend that you just put all of your hope in Jesus. Ask him or her to help you find a Bible that is easy for you to understand and to find a good Bible believing church where you can be baptized and make new friends who will walk with you on your Christian journey!

I would be honored if you would let me know about your decision today by clicking "YES" in the poll located in the upper-right hand corner of the good news blog in answer to the question, "Did God save you today?"

Congratulations and Happy Re-birthday! Your salvation is our GOOD NEWS, please go and share the GOOD NEWS with others!