Open the Bible UK Daily

[God] made us alive together with Christ.Ephesians 2:5What’s been taken out of the white-flour gospel? It says nothing whatsoever about becoming a new person in Christ.The nourishment that God put in has been taken out, and the result is that many Christians have missed out on the substance that will build up their spiritual lives. To be a Christian is to be in Jesus Christ. When you are “in Christ,” it is not just that your past is forgiven and your future secure. It is that you become a new person in Christ. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Cor. 5:17).Here’s the issue: Many Christians have never really understood what it is to be a new person in Christ. The Bible expresses this in different ways.“You must be born again” (John 3:7).“He saved us… by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).“[God] made us alive together with Christ” (Eph. 2:5).We have been examining our new identity in Christ and seeking to put back into our understanding of the gospel what has too often been taken out. “Because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30).New life, new power, new identity. That’s the whole grain of the gospel!In what ways do you sense that the true substance of the gospel has been missing from your life?

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.2 Corinthians 5:17Perhaps you have made the switch from white bread to whole-grain bread. You were told that white flour has most of the goodness taken out of it, so you began baking your own bread, and it is fantastic.Some of us have got used to a white-flour gospel—a gospel that has much of the goodness taken out of it. Although we can live on it, we lack the substance of what God originally gave us.The white-flour gospel goes something like this: God has done certain things, and if you choose to believe them, you will be saved. So, when someone says, “I believe that Jesus died and rose,” and they say a prayer, they are told, “You are forgiven, and you have eternal life.”The person says, “That’s great. Now all I have to do is figure out how to live the rest of life. I am forgiven for the past. I am secure for the future. But I am essentially in the same position now.”Many Christians live with this sense that the gospel addresses the past and the future, but there is a disconnect with the real issues of life. All of us have issues. The deep wounds of your life. Your ongoing struggles with sin. Your feelings of insignificance and wondering if your life really matters.Your faith becomes like a spiritual insurance policy—something that you are glad you have, that you would not be without, but that is not a great deal of use in the practicalities of your life. That’s the white-flour gospel.Does your faith sometimes feel like a spiritual insurance policy that doesn’t address the real issues of your life?

As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.John 17:18-19The fourth dimension of your holiness is that you are sent to the world. When Jesus says, “I consecrate [that is, sanctify] myself,” He is not talking about a gradual growth in holiness. He is the Holy One. He fulfilled everything that the Father called Him to do, so Jesus is talking about giving Himself to a special calling—in this case, the cross.In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, we have the story of how Jesus wrestled over the agony of the cross. “If it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” But in the end, He gave Himself to it. “Not as I will, but as you will” (Mat. 26:39).This is John’s Gethsemane: Jesus says, “I consecrate myself” (John 17:19). He is saying, “I give myself to the work that the Father has given me to do.”Jesus calls us to do the same thing. “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” (John 20:21). When Christ sees a secondary school in need, what does He do? He sends you. When Christ sees the business world in chaos, what does He do? He sends you. When Christ sees someone who is cold and hungry, what does He do? He sends you.He doesn’t send all of us to every place, but He does send each of us to some place. He does not make us all responsible for every need, but He does make us all responsible for some need. As He gives Himself to His work, He is praying that we will give ourselves to our work.You are sent. That’s why it is so critical that you should be who you are.What has Christ sent you to do? Are you ready to follow Christ’s example and consecrate yourself to that calling?

I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world.John 17:6The third dimension of your holiness is that you are called. You may have heard the phrase that we are called to be “in the world but not of it.” That’s a good summary, and it comes directly from John 17.Notice the words of Jesus: “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world” (17:6). At the same time, He says, “The world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (17:14).Yet Jesus also says that the disciples “are in the world” (17:11). In fact, He specifically says, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world” (17:15). It isn’t easy to be in the world when we are not of it, yet that is our calling from God.Suppose a friend has a spare ticket for a big match between intense rivals. The problem is that you would be sitting among your team’s rivals. Your friend says, “Just keep a low profile. You will be fine.”The game is a strange experience. When the section you are sitting in cheers, you are holding your head in your hands. When they are racked with despair, you are overwhelmed with joy, trying not to be too obvious.That is precisely our position. We gather in church and talk about holiness, and it’s like cheering among the home team. But tomorrow, you find yourself in a crowd who are cheering for the opposite thing.When the final whistle blows, the losing team will leave the field with their heads hanging. That’s not where it’s going to end with you. You are in the world, but you are not of the world. You have been given to Christ. You will be covered with His glory. You will share in His triumph.How does knowing that you will share in Christ’s triumph help you endure the times you find yourself among a “rival team”?

The glory that you have given me I have given to them.John 17:22That is a staggering statement. You share in Jesus’ glory! This is the second dimension of your holiness.Donald Grey Barnhouse was a church minister in Philadelphia. He conducted many weddings, but he never took money for doing them. This is what he says:For many years it has been my custom whenever I married anybody, that when the bridegroom hands me an envelope, I go and say to the bride, “Here is my wedding present to you. If he has been very generous to the preacher, you’ve got a good sum.” Now look again at what Jesus says to the Father: “The glory that you have given me I have given to them” (17:22). We get the glory that the Father gave to the Son. How much is that? “The glory that you have given me.”Here is the amazing thing about being a Christian. It is not just that we will see the glory of Jesus, but we will share the glory of Jesus. His glory will be revealed to us, but His glory will also be revealed in us. When we see Him, we will be like Him (1 John 3:2).Notice that Jesus speaks of it as something that has already happened. “I have given” them the glory. The apostle John says, “We are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared” (1 John 3:2). Paul says, “Your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Col. 3:3-4). You are like a tree in winter. It looks bare now, but its full glory is still to be seen.Christ has given you the glory that the Father gave to Him. Be who you are!What hope do you find in knowing that Jesus has already given you His glory and that one day it will be seen in full?

“Yours they were, and you gave them to me.”John 17:6In making you holy, God has put you in an entirely new position in relation to Christ and to the world. Four things are true of you in Christ: You are given, glorified, called, and sent.The first dimension of your holiness is that you are given. You are the gift of the Father to the Son. You are His, so be who you are.It is natural for us to think about Jesus being the Father’s gift to us, but did you ever stop to think about the fact that you are the Father’s gift to Jesus? That is exactly what we find here. “Yours they were, and you gave them to me” (17:6). “I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me” (17:9).Think about a wedding. The pastor asks, “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” The father of the bride says, “I do.” Then he takes her hand and places it into the hand of the bridegroom. She is “given” to her husband.The Church is the bride of Christ. The Father has called you and has drawn you to faith, and He gives you to His Son Jesus Christ. It is significant that the Father’s gift to the Son is not the world. Remember, it was Satan who showed Christ the kingdoms of the world and all their splendour and said, “All these I will give you” (Mat. 4:9).Jesus turned His back on the offer. You are worth more than all the world to Jesus. You are given to Him by the Father.Reflect on the fact that you are a gift Jesus valued more than all the world.

You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.1 Corinthians 6:11Here, Paul is talking about something that has already happened. “You were sanctified.” In this case, it is not an ongoing process. It is a completed act.The word holy, or holiness, is used in two ways in the Bible. The original Hebrew word could mean two things: “set apart” or “brightness.”The first meaning describes a position, in which something was set apart for a special purpose. In the Old Testament, you could have a table or a chair that was “holy.” It was set apart for a special purpose. When we read, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Ex. 20:8), it means keep this day different and set apart from all other days.The second meaning describes a process of gradual inward change in a person, by which the character of God is reflected with increasing brightness. That’s what Paul is praying for when he says, “May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely” (1 Thes. 5:23).This is why we might hesitate when asked if we are holy or sanctified. If they are asking if our life is a true reflection of the radiant brightness of the glory of God, the answer is no. Only a small part of His love is seen in us, and it is mingled with many other things. We are in the process of becoming holy.If the question is, “Have you been set apart for a special purpose?” the answer is yes. In Christ, we are set apart as God’s people, for God’s purpose. That is what Paul is talking about when he says Christ is our holiness. You have been placed in a new position, and you are set apart by God for a new purpose.How do the two meanings of holiness help you better understand God’s work of sanctification in your life?

Christ Jesus, who became to us… sanctification.1 Corinthians 1:30We have seen that in Christ you are clean, and in Christ you are free. Now we come to the third dimension of who we are in Jesus Christ: Christ is our holiness. Another word for holiness is sanctification. These words mean the same thing, and it is worth knowing them both.Now this is an area where it is easy to become confused, so it is important to think clearly. If someone asks you, “Are you justified, forgiven, and reconciled to God?” you will say, “Yes.” If they ask, “Are you redeemed?” you will say, “Yes.” This is something that has happened. It has been accomplished.But if they ask, “Are you holy?” or “Are you sanctified?” we may hesitate. We normally think about holiness or sanctification as an ongoing process. Justification is the once-and-for-all event in which we are brought into a right relationship with God. Sanctification is the ongoing process of growth by which we are made increasingly like Christ, and it is never complete in this life.We think that maybe it would be true of us just a little bit in twenty-five years, but right now it sounds like something that we are not! If you are married and you ask your spouse, “Do you think I am holy?” the response may be, “You cannot be serious!”So, holiness sounds like something that we are not, and something we cannot really imagine ourselves being. It feels as if anything about us that was holy would be just a little false.While it seems natural for us to say, “I have been justified,” we do not feel that we could ever come to the place of saying, “I have been sanctified.”How would you describe the difference between justification and sanctification to someone else?

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.2 Corinthians 5:17There is a wonderful line in Victor Hugo’s great book Les Misérables. It is the story of Jean Valjean, a heartless criminal. A bishop shows him great kindness, and it changes his life.But later in the story, Jean Valjean’s past gets the better of him, and he steals a coin from a little boy. This is what Hugo says about Jean Valjean:Let us say simply it was not he who robbed, it was not the man but the brute beast that through habit and instinct stupidly placed its foot on the coin... When the intellect woke again and saw this brutish action, Jean Valjean recoiled with agony and uttered a cry of horror. It was a curious phenomenon, and one only possible in the situation he was in, that, in robbing the boy of that money, he committed a deed of which he was no longer capable.Like Jean Valjean, your sin is not who you are. It is who you were, it is not who you are. You may still fall into some of the things that you once did in the cage. You may do them out of habit. You may do them out of weakness. You may do them out of choice. But you do not have to do them.The fundamental truth about you in relation to sin’s guilt is that you are clean. The fundamental truth about you in relation to sin’s power is that you are free. Your life has been redeemed by grace. Be who you are.Have you been redeemed? Be who you are!

Consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.Romans 6:11Maybe you are thinking, It’s all very well to tell me that I am free, but I don’t feel very free. In fact, sometimes I feel totally defeated.That’s not surprising. If you have thought of yourself as a slave for years, it’s no easy thing to start living the life of a free person. We hear that Christ has redeemed us, but we do not feel redeemed. We continue to think of ourselves as if we were in the cage. If you are to be who you are, here’s what you need to do.1. Tell yourself the truth“Consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (6:11).The biggest cause of defeat is that we go on repeating the lies of the enemy. You look at some big sin and you say, “I can’t stop this.” Stop talking defeat. Tell yourself the truth.2. Put up a fight“Let not sin… reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions” (6:12).Sin is not your master so don’t do what it says. When a voice in your head says, You know you can’t say no to this, say to that voice, “You’re no longer my master. I don’t need to listen to you.”3. Offer yourself to God“Present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life” (6:13).How many Christians feel that they have nothing to offer Christ? If you are in Christ, you are alive to God. If you are alive to God, then your life is useful to Him. Offer yourself to God as one who has been brought from death to life.Which of these three steps do you find hardest to follow? Which is easiest?

Christ Jesus, who became to us… redemption.1 Corinthians 1:30Notice the centrality of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is at the heart of everything that is truly Christian. The way in which you become free is not through a technique but through a person. Christ is our redemption. “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).Paul gives us a marvelous description of the man in the cage in Romans 7. He describes the experience of a man who is overwhelmed by the compulsive power of sinful habits.The man says that he is a prisoner of the law of sin. He is unable to do the good that he wants to do, and he keeps repeating the same evil that he intended to avoid.Finally, he says: “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Rom. 7:24). Notice the question. It is not “What will deliver me?” It is “Who will deliver me?”Many people who struggle with compulsive behaviours are asking the wrong question. If you ask, “What will deliver me?”, there are all kinds of answers on offer: spiritual disciplines, accountability, counselling, getting involved in a ministry, and making Christian friends.All of these may be helpful, but none of them will get you out of the cage. You can pray in the cage, set up accountability in the cage, get involved in ministry in the cage—and all of these can be very helpful in changing your behaviour, but at the end of the day, you are still in the cage. The biblical question is never “What will deliver me?” It is “Who will deliver me.”And the answer is, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (7:25). Christ has become our redemption. The Lord sets prisoners free!In your own life, have you been focusing on “What will deliver me?” or “Who will deliver me?”

How can we who died to sin still live in it?Romans 6:2What does Paul mean when he says that we have “died to sin”? Most of us find that sin is still pretty much alive, and sometimes very powerful.If you are in Christ, you are now in a whole new position in relation to sin. You are not in the cage, you are in the field. Sin is still your enemy, but it is not your master. That’s why Paul says, “Sin will have no dominion over you” (6:14).The angry man will still shout instructions across the road. And when he does, you will feel that you should do what he says. After all, that’s what you got used to doing. But the angry man is no longer your master. You are under no obligation to do what he says. You are free!Paul is not saying that we are sinless. Nor that we will have no further struggles with sin. He is saying, “You are a new person in Christ.” Sin is still your enemy, but it is no longer your master.That’s a huge difference. Once you were held hostage. Now you are in a position to fight. There’s all the difference in the world. The angry man may come over by the road and start shouting orders at you, but you do not have to do what sin says. You are in an entirely new position. Sin is no longer your master.How could understanding your new position help you in your own battle against sin?

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.Colossians 1:13Sin is a power. When it gains a grip in your life, it will not let go. Paul says, “Sin reigned” (Rom. 5:21). It is like a tyrant. It bossed you around. The impulses of sin were in the driver’s seat of your life. Sin was your master.But now, in Christ, Paul says we have “died to sin” (6:2). He does not say we must die to sin. He is saying that we have died to sin. We have been united with Christ in His death, and that is why we will be united with Him in His resurrection (6:5). We know that “our old self was crucified with him” (6:6). Sin will no longer be our master (6:14).Imagine you are traveling down a road, and on one side is a high chain-link fence. On the other side is an open field. There are people behind the fence and people in the field. You discover that the fence is part of a huge cage, and the people inside cannot get out. A man in the cage is shouting orders. Sometimes the people protest, but eventually they do what he tells them.That’s a picture of what Paul is saying. “Sin reigned.” Sin told you what to do. The Bible speaks about this in many ways. You belonged to the “domain of darkness” (Col. 1:13). The whole world is “imprisoned… under sin” (Gal. 3:22).When you came to faith in Jesus Christ, you “died to sin.” You popped up on the other side of the road. You were translated from one realm to another: out of the cage and into the field.How does the image of the cage and the field help you understand the reign of sin in your life?

Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you.1 Corinthians 6:9-11The gospel touches the deepest issues of our lives, even the most powerful issues of temptation and addiction. Is Christ able to help you here?If we are to be delivered from sin, we need more than a Saviour who is able to forgive our sins. We need a Redeemer who is able to break the power that leads us to sin.In 1 Corinthians 6, we find real-life examples of how Christ sets people free. Notice the patterns of compulsive behaviour:The sexually immoral—includes the whole world of sexual addiction.The thieves—who are takers rather than givers.The greedy—who are unable to control their spending.The drunkards—folks under the power of alcohol.The revilers—people who cannot control their tongues.The swindlers—those who have never cut a straight deal in their life.That’s what they were. But not now! Paul reminds them that “you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (6:11).The gospel is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe (Rom. 1:16). That is the significance of redemption—the ability of Jesus Christ to set us free from deeply ingrained patterns of compulsive behaviour.IIn what areas of life are you in need of Christ’s redemptive power to set you free?

Christ Jesus, who became to us… redemption.1 Corinthians 1:30If we are in Christ, we are a new creation. The old has gone and the new has come. The heart of the Christian life is that you discover who you are in Jesus Christ, and then be who you are. We’ve seen that the first step in discovering our new identity in Christ is knowing that you are clean. The second step is knowing that you are free.Redemption is a freedom word. It is about setting a person free by the payment of a price. The word “redeem” was often used of slaves in the ancient world. If a person was a slave, you could redeem that person by paying a price.It was also used in pawn shops. If you ran out of money you could take something valuable like a gold ring to the pawn shop, and you would get money for it. The pawn shop would hold the ring for thirty days, and during that time you had the right to redeem it—to buy it back. If you weren’t able to do that, somebody else could buy it.As long as the ring was at the shop, it was in the power and possession of the pawnbroker. Only when it was redeemed was it brought back to where it belonged.One of the most wonderful names ever given to our Lord Jesus Christ is the title “Redeemer.” Christ is your righteousness—that means He releases you from the guilt of sin. Christ is your redemption—that means He delivers you from the power of sin.How does it change your view of yourself to understand that Christ has paid the price to gain your freedom?

Christ Jesus, who became to us … righteousness1 Corinthians 1:30In order to understand your purity in Christ, the first thing you need to know is that Christ is your righteousness. The second thing you need to know is that Christ’s righteousness is yours.Imagine that you are living in a derelict building that will soon be pulled down, and you have nowhere to go. Then you meet a man who offers his home to you. You tell him you have no money for rent, but he says that there will be no rent. You ask how long you can stay, and he tells you that you can live there as if the home was your own.He tells you that he has several homes, and that each day he comes by to clean them and tend the garden. “You won’t see me,” he says. “I only call when my tenants are away.”When you find the house, you are overwhelmed. It is the home of your dreams. But more than that, it is truly your home. It’s not your home by right, but it is your home by grace. How do you respond?Enjoy it! In the same way, Christ’s righteousness is yours, so enjoy it! Why live under a continuing burden of guilt when the righteousness of Christ is yours? You say you are ashamed and cannot forgive yourself. Start looking at Him. As you see what He has done for you, you will begin to love Him. You don’t need to live in shame. You don’t need to impress God with your own righteousness. You are clean, so enjoy your position in Christ.Be who you are. The Christian life is not about pretending to be what you are not. It is about being who you are. You are clean. Be who you are.On a scale of 1 (I’m living in shame and guilt) to 10 (I’m finding my rest in Jesus and enjoying His righteousness), what is your experience of the Christian life?

That I may… be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own… but that which comes through faith in Christ.Philippians 3:8-9The issue on the last day will not be how righteous Christ has made you but how righteous Christ is for you.Some think the important thing is how righteous we have become. If you put sugar into a cup of tea, it makes the tea sweet. In the same way, they say, Christ imparts His “sweetness” (or righteousness) to us.In a sense, this is true—the likeness of Christ is formed in the life of the believer. But if your entrance into heaven rested on the degree to which you had become like Jesus Christ, you would be on shaky ground.This is what Paul was getting at when he said that we “glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh” (Phil. 3:3). He wanted to “be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ” (3:9).If your righteousness is in Christ, there are two things you can be sure of.You can’t foul it up.If your righteousness was in you, you could foul it up at any time. But nothing you do can make Jesus less righteous. And if your righteousness is found in Him, it is absolutely secure.You can’t boast about it.Paul states that none of us has anything to boast about, and that if we boast, we should boast in the Lord (1 Cor. 1:29, 31).Charles Spurgeon said that our justification is entirely of God’s grace: “We don’t lend one little finger to this work of God. And that’s just as well because we would give all the glory to the little finger.” Christ is your righteousness.In what ways might you be trying to “sweeten the tea” of your own righteousness?

Christ Jesus, who became to us… righteousness.1 Corinthians 1:30If you are to grasp and enjoy your new purity in Christ, there are two things you need to know, and they are both right here in this verse. The first one is that Christ is your righteousness.Your faith does not make you right with God, nor does your repentance, or your performance in the Christian life. Your service cannot make you right with God, nor can your ministry, or anything else that you offer to God.What would you want God to examine on the last day? You might be thinking, “My faith is genuine, but it is far from perfect. My repentance is genuine, but it is not yet complete. My Christian life is a work in progress. My ministry has its failures as well as its successes, its missed opportunities, its neglected duties.”On the last day, we all have to give an account of our lives, but if our eternity depended on what we’ve done for God, we would have no hope whatsoever. Augustine once said, “I do not dare to commend the works of my hands for fear that you may find more sins in them than merits.” If our hope rested on anything that we offer to God, then it would soon melt away.Here is the wonderful thing: For those who are in Christ, what gets examined on the last day is not your faith, your repentance, your Christian life, or your ministry. It is your Saviour. And there is no fault in Him. He is righteous.Reflect on the comforting truth that our hope for eternity depends not on what we’ve done but on Christ’s righteousness.

To the one who… believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.Romans 4:5God justifies sinners. This is mind-boggling. You would expect this verse to say that God justifies the righteous. If God is just, surely He should be looking to justify people who have not broken His law. But nobody is righteous—not even one person (3:10). If God justified only the righteous, none of us would have any hope.The good news of the gospel is that God justifies the ungodly. He throws out the legitimate charges against us. And He does this freely and justly on the basis of the redemption that came by Jesus Christ. Justice fell on Him so that mercy would be released to us. God says, “You are justified.” You are forgiven. You are clean. You are righteous, in and through Christ.We believe this, but it feels like believing something that’s not really true. Your life is far from what you want it to be, and much further from what God wants it to be. If people knew what I was really like… you say to yourself. And the devil says it to you as well.We are righteous in Christ, but it is also true that we still sin. It is easier to see our sins than our righteousness, so it is tempting to think that our sins are the greater reality. How can you be clean when you have done some stupid thing that you deeply regret? Or when your heart has been violated by images you find hard to forget? Or when you have come through experiences that made you feel wretched and worthless?These are huge questions, but if you are in Christ, this is what God says: “You are clean.”How big of a gap is there between what God says about you and how you feel about yourself?

You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.1 Corinthians 6:11This is the first of the four dimensions of our new identity in Christ: when we are in Christ, we are clean, though we still sin. The word the Bible uses to describe this is justification. “Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1).You are justified in Christ, and that means three things. Legally, you are acquitted. God throws out all charges against you. Relationally, you are forgiven. God reconciles you to Himself. Personally, you are washed. God makes you fit for life in His presence. Your guilt is taken away, and you have peace with Him. Why is this so hard to grasp? Two stories will help us understand.An innocent man who was falsely accused. At this man’s trial, the evidence makes it clear that he is innocent. The judge pronounces his verdict—not guilty—and the man is free to go. How does the man respond? He rejoices that the truth is finally known.The guilty man who was not convicted. At this man’s trial, the prosecution misses a key piece of evidence, and the case is not proved beyond reasonable doubt. The judge pronounces his verdict—not guilty—and the man is free to go. How does this man respond? He leaves, fearing that the truth may one day be known. He has to live with his conscience.When God justifies us, are we like the first man or the second man? The Bible makes it clear that we are all like the second man. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:23-24).Do you sometimes feel like the second man?

Because of [God] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.1 Corinthians 1:30This is one of the most marvellous statements in the whole of the Bible. In earlier verses, Paul reminds us that God calls ordinary, unimpressive human beings like us, who have nothing very much to boast about.Then he says it is because of Him (God the Father) that you are in Christ Jesus (so this is a statement about what it means to be “in Christ”), who has become for us (now he lists four things) wisdom from God, that is our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.Notice that Paul is not speaking about everybody, but about those who are “in Christ.” God never forces anybody to be in Christ. That would be a denial of the freedom that is His gift to you. God allows you the choice of living without Christ. Nobody is born in Christ, but everybody is invited. The way that you come to be in Christ is through faith in the Son of God who loved you and gave Himself for you.People respond to this message in different ways. To some it is foolishness that one man who was crucified could open the doors of everlasting life for all who believe in Him (1:23). But to those who are being saved, the message of the cross is the power of God (Rom. 1:16).As you discover who you are, you will find a new freedom to be yourself in Jesus Christ. And the heart of what God has done for you in Christ is right here in this verse. In Christ you are clean, you are free, you are holy, and you are wise.When you think about these four things that are true of you when you are in Christ, order them from 1 (I least feel this is true of me) to 4 (I most feel like this is true of me).

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.2 Corinthians 5:17This is one of the hardest truths for us to grasp in all of the Bible. If the old has really gone, then why do we still face the same old temptations? Why do we still struggle with the same temperament?The Bible tells us that we are a new person, but we still live in the same flesh, and the same world. We are still surrounded by the same problems and face the same battles. So, what’s new? If there has been such a big change, why is the Christian life so difficult?Many people have concluded that there is nothing essentially new at all. They have decided that being a Christian is a matter of making a commitment to Jesus Christ in which you repent and believe. It involves making an effort to live a better life that will hopefully turn out to be pleasing to God. And if you do this, God will give you a bit of help by His Holy Spirit—because after all, God helps those who help themselves.But here’s the problem. Making a commitment involves a change in what you believe. Making an effort involves a change in how you behave. Getting some help will make a difference in what you can achieve, but none of these things change who you actually are.Jesus Christ offers more than a change in what you believe, how you behave, and what you can accomplish. The heart of the gospel is about a change in who you are. It involves a whole new identity. If you are in Christ, you are a new creation!Would you say you have merely made a commitment to live a better life, or are you a whole new person in Christ?

The women of the neighbourhood gave him a name, saying. "A son has been born to Naomi". They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse. the father of David.Ruth 4:17We have seen that the baby born in Bethlehem is described as a redeemer. Here we are told that they named him Obed, and Obed means servant. So the baby born in Bethlehem is a redeemer and a servant. And from him comes a future king: “He was the father of Jesse, the father of David” (4:17).All of this is pointing to Jesus, the Redeemer, who took the form of a servant even though He is the King. In the last verses of Ruth, we are given a line of descent from Perez to King David. The first verses of Matthew give this same genealogy as the line into which our Lord Jesus Christ was born.We are told that Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth (Mat. 1:5). So, Boaz’s mother was a Canaanite, and his wife was a Moabite. God’s plan and purpose is that the blessing that comes from Him and through the Redeemer will reach the whole world.God said to Abraham, “I will bless you and… in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen. 12:2-3). Here in the book of Ruth, God’s purpose is already being realised. God wove the lives, loves, and losses of these ordinary people into His hidden plan to bring blessing to the world.Have you asked Jesus to be your Redeemer? Without Him, the blessings you enjoy will soon be gone. With Him, the blessings you enjoy have only just begun.

The righteous flourish like the palm tree… They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age.Psalm 42:12-14Don’t miss the wise counsel that can be gleaned from the story of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz.Wisdom for those who are older. Stay close to those who love you. Take an active interest in others, especially younger members of your family and the children of your friends. Anticipate blessings that are yet to come. God’s work would continue beyond Naomi’s lifetime. There was more fruit from her faith, her prayers, and her service that was still to come.Wisdom for those who are younger. Never underestimate the blessing you can bring to older people God has placed in your life. You can bring them great joy. You can be a nourisher of their old age. And if you truly follow Jesus and walk in the truth, you will bring them the greatest joy.Wisdom regarding in-laws. Boaz brought blessings not only to Ruth but also to Naomi. Sinclair Ferguson has this helpful comment: “Boaz recognises that love for a woman implies responsibilities towards her family. While marriage involves a new family unit… he does not abandon either his or his new wife’s family. ‘Love me, love my family’ is part and parcel of marriage—even when families are difficult.”God has not left you without a Redeemer. And this Redeemer will be to you the restorer of life and the nourisher of your old age. Stay close to Him and you will be blessed, even in your later years.Think about specific ways you can bless those who are younger or older than you. If you are married, think about ways you can bless your in-laws.

He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.Ruth 4:15How will this child be a restorer of life and a nourisher of Naomi's old age?The redeemer brings love. “Your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him” (4:15). The women are saying, “Naomi, the love and loyalty your daughter-in-law has shown to you is better than you could have hoped for in seven sons! And this little boy will love you too. His love will renew your life and nourish your old age.”The redeemer brings purpose. “Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse” (4:16). When you lose someone, you may find yourself wondering why you are still here. Your life was tied up with your loved one. What purpose is there for you now? You are still here because God has work for you to do (Eph. 2:10). Naomi finds a new sense of purpose and calling. There is something for her to do and she gives herself to it with joy.The redeemer brings hope. “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer” (4:14). When Naomi’s sons died, it seemed that there was no future, but God did not leave Naomi without a redeemer. Boaz secured the inheritance, and now, through Ruth, Boaz has continued the family line.The story that began with Naomi’s loss, ends with Naomi’s gain. Yes, Naomi has suffered greatly. But God has not left her without a redeemer. She is loved. She has hope. And God has work for her to do.Has a great loss left you wondering why you are still here? Ask God to show you the purpose He still has for you.

The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel!”Ruth 4:14There was a close relative who was not willing to redeem. He could have helped Naomi, but he didn’t. Maybe you have had something like this happen. Friends or family could have helped you, but they didn’t, and you were disappointed. Help doesn’t always come from where you might expect it.When this first relative was unwilling to help Naomi, God gave her Boaz, and the women said to her, “Blessed be the LORD who has not left you this day without a redeemer” (4:14). But if you read on, you will see something surprising: “He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him” (4:15).It’s not Boaz who is being described as the redeemer here. It is the baby born in Bethlehem! The baby will be to you a restorer of life. He will be a nourisher of your old age. Boaz is a redeemer. But there’s more redeeming to be done than Boaz can do. The baby is also a redeemer. He will be a restorer of life and a nourisher of Naomi’s old age. And of course, there is more redeeming to be done than the baby can do.What is said here about the baby points us forward to our Lord Jesus Christ. God has not left you without a Redeemer. He will be to you a restorer of life, a nourisher of your old age.Recall a time you were disappointed by someone who could have helped you but didn’t. Can you see that God brought help in ways you did not expect it?

May the LORD make the woman… like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah... and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the LORD will give you.Ruth 4:11-12Ruth and Boaz are married in the presence of many witnesses, and what follows can be summed up in one word: blessing. The elders and witnesses pray for them, providing a template prayer for any newly married couple.Pray for the gift of children. “May the LORD make the woman… like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel” (4:11). Ruth had been married to Mahlon for 10 years and no children had been born. Rachel was married to Jacob and for years had no children, until the LORD opened her womb. The witnesses know that children are a gift from the Lord. When children are conceived, this is in the purpose of God. When children are not conceived, this, too, is in the purpose of God.Pray for the continued pursuit of godliness. “May you act worthily in Ephrathah” (4:11). Boaz is described as “a worthy man,” and Ruth is described as “a worthy woman” (2:1; 3:11), so they are well matched. They are devoted to God. “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim. 6:6). If you have this, you will be blessed and you will be a blessing.Pray for the triumph of grace. “May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the LORD will give you” (4:12). The story of Perez is so painful, you wonder how any good could come of it. And yet, here is Perez in the honored line of Abraham’s descendants by whom God brought blessing to the world! There is hope here for the person who has the worst possible start in life.Which of these three prayers do you find most encouraging today?

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.1 Peter 1:3-4Why is this story in the Bible? It shines a light on our Lord Jesus Christ and especially on what it means for Him to be our Redeemer.Jesus is our Redeemer. To be our Redeemer, Jesus had to become our near relative. He entered the human family. And Jesus has done all that we could ever want or need a Redeemer to do. He has purchased our inheritance, and he has begun a family that will continue forever.Jesus was willing to pay the price. If you ever find yourself questioning God’s love, just look at what Jesus has done for you. The cost was laying down His life. You were redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Pet. 1:18-19).Jesus redeems us by uniting us with Himself. Boaz became Ruth’s redeemer by uniting himself to her in marriage. And Jesus redeems us by uniting us to Himself. That is why the Bible speaks of the church as the bride of Christ.Jesus came into the world for this very purpose—to redeem us. He suffered and died on the cross to pay the price. And He longs that the gift He has purchased should be yours. The Redeemer is yours if you will have Him. But you must ask.Have you asked Jesus to be your Redeemer? If not, would you make this your prayer today? Redeem me, Lord. Restore my inheritance. Make me a member of Your family forever. Take me under Your wing. Unite me with Yourself, so that all that is Yours becomes mine.

It is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I... If he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the LORD lives, I will redeem you.Ruth 3:12-13The job description for a redeemer would be: To bring hope by restoring an inheritance and raising a family. What qualifications would a redeemer need?Must be a family member. A redeemer had to be a family member to keep the inheritance in the family and continue the family line. That’s why Naomi was so excited when Ruth told her she had been gleaning in Boaz’s field. Being a relative qualified Boaz to act as a redeemer.Must be willing to do whatever it costs. Boaz was not only willing, he was also eager to marry Ruth. But another relative had a prior right to purchase the land. Would he be willing?Boaz went to the city gate (4:1), where legal and business transactions were made. When the nearer relative arrived, Boaz explained the opportunity to buy the land. The relative said, “I will redeem it” (4:4). You can understand why: the land would become part of his estate.But then Boaz said, “You also acquire Ruth… in order to perpetuate the name of the dead” (4:5). That changed everything! The child who would continue the name of Mahlon would inherit the land. The relative took off his sandal and handed it to Boaz, giving up the right to walk on that land (4:7-8).Then we have wedding bells. The elders, witnesses, and sandals are the equivalent of signatures. Ruth the Moabite is married to Boaz and she has legal standing as one of the people of God.Reflect on the blessings that Ruth and Boaz received because of their commitment to honouring God’s law above their own desires.

“Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.”Ruth 3:9Ruth asked Boaz to commit himself to her in marriage because he was a redeemer. Redeemer is the single most important word in this story, and it is one of the richest and most beautiful descriptions of our Lord Jesus Christ.What is a redeemer? God revealed His truth progressively over time and at this point, God’s people did not know the joys of eternal life as we do today. Old Testament believers hoped that two things would continue after they died.Their inheritance would continue. When God’s people entered the Promised Land, each family was given a portion of land as their inheritance. When a man died, it would be passed to his son, from generation to generation. God made a provision in the Old Testament law to keep the land in the family: “If your brother becomes poor and sells part of his property, then his nearest redeemer shall come and redeem what his brother has sold” (Lev. 25:25).Their family would continue. Continuing the family line was of huge importance. So God made a provision in the Old Testament law to continue a family when a husband died without a son. In this case, his brother was to take the dead man’s wife as his own.“And the first son whom she bears shall succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel” (Deut. 25:6).When Ruth made her proposal to Boaz, she was invoking this law. Far from being offended, Boaz commends Ruth for her loyal commitment to raise a child in the name of her deceased husband so that his inheritance would not be lost, and his family line would continue.What do these laws about inheritance and family suggest to you about the role of the Redeemer in your own life?

May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich.Ruth 3:10Ruth’s initiative in coming to Boaz gives us a picture of how we should come to Jesus. Ruth took a risky initiative of faith. She went to Boaz and asked. And because she asked, she received.Faith seeks Jesus and is blessed. “You have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich” (3:10). Ruth could have chosen a different life with a younger man. In proposing to Boaz, she chose to honour the law of God. There are many choices you could make, but if you seek Christ, you will be blessed.Faith asks Jesus and receives. “I will do for you all that you ask” (3:11). Boaz was ready to give, but Ruth did not receive until she asked. James says, “You do not have, because you do not ask” (4:2). Jesus says, “Ask, and it will be given to you” (Mat. 7:7). Christ has more to give than any of us has yet received. But we must ask.Faith submits to Jesus and obeys. “Go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do” (Ruth 3:4). The fact that Ruth was lying at Boaz’s feet is emphasised repeatedly (see 3:7, 8, 14). If you sat at someone’s feet, you were submitting to their authority. Faith submits to the authority of Jesus Christ and obeys Him.Faith trusts Jesus and waits. “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today” (3:18). If you will seek Christ, and ask Christ, and submit to Christ, you can trust Christ to settle what you have placed into His hands.What do you need from the Lord Jesus Christ today? Draw near to Him in an initiative of faith. Ask and you will receive.

“Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask.”Ruth 3:11We saw earlier what we can learn from Naomi’s example of love. There is more for us to learn about love from the example of Boaz.Love waits. “She lay at his feet until the morning” (3:14). Boaz faced an extraordinary test of his character and integrity. If this were the movies, Ruth and Boaz would have become one that night, under the stars. Why did Boaz not say, “I love you, and you love me. Let’s become man and wife in the eyes of God right now.”?God has given sexual union as a gift to be enjoyed within the bonds of marriage. Marriage is more than a private relationship of love between two people. Marriage is a relationship of love wrapped in the strength of the law. Ruth and Boaz model a love that waits. Because they seek the blessing of God, they are committed to obeying the law of God.Love commits. “I will do for you all that you ask” (3:11). Boaz is ready to commit. He had clearly indicated his interest in Ruth. He had awakened her interest, and now he has no hesitation in committing himself to her. Self-interest wants to keep all options open. But love commits, knowing that joy and blessing will follow.Love gives. “He measured out six measures of barley and put it on her” (3:15). Six measures was about 80 pounds. The size of the gift was an indication not only of Boaz’s commitment to Ruth, but of the blessing he would bring into both Ruth and Naomi’s lives.Love waits. Love commits. Love gives.How does this description of love square with our culture’s definition? How would you compare the lasting impact of following either definition?

"She went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in law had commanded her."Ruth 3:2, 3:7, 3:9, 2:12, 3:11After the winnowing was done, one of the farm workers would spend the night on the threshing floor to guard the grain. Naomi knew that Boaz would be guarding the grain that night (3:2). And when Ruth went to the threshing floor, she found Boaz sleeping at the end of his heap of grain.Ruth pulled the blanket off Boaz’s feet and lay down (3:7). Perhaps it was the cold on his feet that awakened Boaz. “Who are you?” he asked.“I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer” (3:9). In plain English, Ruth said to Boaz, “Marry me!” There is something very beautiful in the way Ruth framed her proposal. The first time Boaz met Ruth, he said to her, “The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” (2:12). Ruth used the same language.So, Ruth was saying, “Boaz, when we first met, you prayed that I would find rest under the wings of God. I want you to be the answer to your own prayer and the means by which I experience the blessing of being under the wings of God.”Ruth was a woman of extraordinary virtue (3:11). Her faith was strong. Her love ran deep. Her hope and joy overflowed. Boaz did not hesitate. He accepted her proposal.She went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her.Think of someone for whom you could be the means for extending the blessing of resting under God’s wings.

“Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor… When he lies down… go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” Ruth 3:2-4Ruth 3:2-4Naomi tells her daughter-in-law to make herself as attractive as possible, to sneak up on a man in the middle of the night, and to lie down at his feet.It’s not surprising that Naomi has received harsh criticism for her plan. Is she suggesting that Ruth should seduce Boaz? Did she not realise the danger she was putting Ruth in? Is she guilty of trying to nudge the hand of God?If you’ve ever watched one of those television shows where they attempt crazy stunts, you might recall hearing the public service announcement: “Don’t try this at home!” That warning should be attached to any study of Ruth. Not many men would have the self-control that Boaz showed.Still, Naomi’s counsel is a beautiful expression of faith, hope, and love. Boaz had clearly shown interest in Ruth, but he had done nothing to move the relationship forward. His words may hint at the reason why: “May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter” (3:10). This suggests a substantial age difference, and Boaz may have put thoughts of romance out of his mind.We know how the story should end. But time has passed, and nothing has happened… until Naomi comes to the rescue!Do you believe that Naomi was nudging God’s hand or expressing faith in His provision?

My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?Ruth 3:1Naomi was an older woman. Ruth had made an extraordinary commitment to care for her, but what would happen when Naomi was gone? Naomi gives us a marvellous example of love.Love appreciates what others have done and seeks to do good for them. “Should I not seek rest for you that it may be well with you?” (3:1). There is a real change here. Naomi’s thoughts had all been about herself and her loss. But God’s provision through Ruth and Boaz gave her new hope and a new purpose. Her focus now is on what she can do for Ruth.Love wants others to enjoy gifts we have not received. Naomi wants Ruth to find another husband. God did not give Naomi another husband, but Naomi wants Ruth to have what she was not given. There is not a hint of envy here; no sense of Why should she have an easier life when mine has been so hard? Love rejoices with those who rejoice.Love moves a person in the direction of rest. Notice that marriage is described here very beautifully as “rest.” “Should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?” (3:1). Marriage is a good gift from God in which one man and one woman are brought together in a lasting union of love and mutual support, in which they find rest. Naomi wants Ruth to find a husband, and she thinks she knows who that husband should be!Who has shown this kind of love to you? How can you show the same love to them? Think about what Jesus Christ has done for you. What will you now do for Him?

My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.Philippians 4:19The story of Ruth is a marvellous story of hope. If you are feeling hopeless today, what should you do?Do what you can. Ruth took responsibility, and she used the strength God had given her. She also took the initiative to go out into the field and work hard. In addition, Ruth cultivated good relationships with the servants and with Boaz. Paul tells us to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:12-13). If God is at work in you, you will be motivated to do all that you can.Stay close to where blessing is found. Boaz told Ruth not to go to another field, but to “keep close to my young women” (2:8). Boaz showed great kindness to Ruth. Other fields were fraught with danger, but God in His kindness had brought Ruth to a good place. Why would she go anywhere else? If you want to find hope, stay close to where blessing is found.Take refuge under the wings of God. Jesus said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem… How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (Mat. 23:37).The last thing in the world you want to do is to push Jesus away. Jesus will welcome you. He will bless you. He invites you to come and to eat at His table, and He will provide for you.Reflect on this truth: “My God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory” (Phil. 4:19).

When [Ruth] rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. And also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.”Ruth 2:15-16Ruth had been following the reapers and picking up the scraps. But after the meal, the reapers started dropping entire stalks on the ground—pre-cut stalks of grain, waiting to be picked up!When the day’s work was done, Ruth returned home with an ephah of barley (2:17). That’s about 30 pounds in weight. A gleaner would normally hope to have enough for a loaf or two of bread. Ruth would barely have been able to carry the grain home.Naomi said that she went out full, and the LORD brought her back empty. Well, Ruth went out empty, and the LORD brought her back full. Naomi can hardly believe what she is seeing. “Blessed be the man who took notice of you” (2:19).Then Ruth tells her, “The man’s name… is Boaz” (2:19). Naomi immediately recognises the hand of God. “May he be blessed by the LORD, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” (2:20). Naomi saw the LORD’s kindness in the kindness of Boaz.Here is a wonderful principle that is at the heart of this story: God works through means. God’s welcome is seen through the welcome of His people. God’s kindness is seen through the kindness of His people. God’s provision comes through the provision of His people.How have you experienced God’s welcome, kindness, and provision through the hands of His people? How could you be God’s hands to others?

At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over.Ruth 2:14The whole Bible is one story that consistently points to our Lord Jesus Christ, and Boaz points us very clearly to Jesus. Naomi describes him as “one of our redeemers” (2:20). Jesus is the Redeemer who welcomes us and blesses us. And Jesus welcomes us to His table.Boaz sits down for lunch with the reapers. Jesus used the image of reapers to describe the work to which He calls us. “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest” (Lk. 10:2). The greatest joy is the communion you have with Him in doing what He has called you to do.Boaz invited Ruth to his table spread with bread and wine. And there is an open invitation to this table. It is for all who are hungry, for all who will come, for all who will receive.Notice that when people come to his table, Boaz is the one who feeds them. Ruth “sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain” (2:14). Christ is the One who feeds us at His table. Draw near to Him in faith, and He will nourish you.Ruth came to the table, and when she ate, she was satisfied. You can’t read that without thinking about Jesus feeding the 5,000. “They all ate and were satisfied. And… twelve baskets full of broken pieces” were left over (Mk. 6:42-43).Jesus welcomes you. Jesus will bless you. Jesus will feed you at His table. And Jesus will provide for you.Have you experienced the joy of fellowship at Jesus’ table? Express your gratitude to Him for the way He provides for you.

The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!Ruth 2:12Boaz had heard about Ruth’s loving commitment to her mother-in-law. He is deeply impressed, and he wants her kindness to be rewarded. Boaz extends himself in showing kindness to Ruth, and his prayer is that God will do the same.God often deals with us in a way that reflects how we have dealt with others. David observed this and he said to God, “With the merciful you show yourself merciful… and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous” (Ps. 18:25, 26).Ruth has been unusually kind to Naomi, and now God blesses Ruth through the unusual kindness of Boaz. Some rewards God gives now, other rewards He keeps for later. If you have not received in a way that reflects what you have given, don’t worry. Jesus said that even a cup of cold water given in His name will be rewarded.Why should God bless Ruth and reward her? Notice what Boaz says: “under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” (2:12). The picture is of a hen with her chicks. When danger comes, the chicks run toward her, and her wings come down, hiding the chicks.Here is a beautiful picture of what it means to be a believer. You run to God for refuge: You look to Him for help, and He covers you with His wings. If you will take refuge under the wings of God, you too will be blessed.Consider the principle that God often deals with us in a way that reflects how we have dealt with others. How have you seen this truth at work?

She… went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech.Ruth 2:3It seems that this all happened by chance. Ruth did not know the field belonged to an eligible member of her husband’s family. But we do!Boaz is a marvellous example of a good employer. He takes an active interest in his employees. As a believing man, he prays for God’s blessing on them. And notice that his goodwill is returned. He says, “The LORD be with you,” and they answer, “The LORD bless you” (2:4).Then, seeing Ruth, Boaz asks the young man in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” (2:5). Ruth has caught Boaz’s attention. The servant tells him, “She is the Moabite who came back with Naomi. She asked to glean behind us, and she has been working all day.”Boaz gives Ruth the warmest welcome, saying three things:“Stay here” (2:8). A less generous owner would have said, “You can glean here today. Go somewhere else tomorrow.” Not Boaz.“You will be safe here” (2:9). These fields could be dangerous places. But Ruth would be safe in the fields of Boaz.“You will find help here” (2:9). When she is thirsty, she can help herself to the water his young men have drawn.Boaz welcomed Ruth and did more for her than the law required. In this he points us to the Lord Jesus Christ, who says, “Whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37). If you will come to Him, He will welcome you. He will guard you. He will keep you.Reflect on the ways you have experienced Jesus’ generous offer of welcome, safety, and provision.

Now Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.Ruth 2:1Now we are introduced to the third main character in the story. The fact that Boaz belonged to Naomi’s family is mentioned twice (2:1, 3). We are being let in on a secret: There is another relative. He is “a worthy man” of good character and great wealth, older than Ruth, but single.It doesn’t take much imagination to work out where this story is going! After all the sorrow and loss, new horizons of hope are opening for Naomi and Ruth.These women were in great need. Naomi had land, but it had not been cultivated for ten years. And Naomi arrived at harvest, so it would be a year before she could derive income from her land. The first need was to put bread on the table, and Ruth took the initiative: “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favour” (2:2).God gave laws to His people that were designed to help the poor. One of these was the provision for “gleaning.” Leviticus 19:9 gives two instructions: (1) When you reap your field, leave a border where those in need can gather the grain; and (2) when grain falls to the ground, leave it for those in need. This is why Ruth wants to glean “after him in whose sight I shall find favour.” She needs to find reapers who will honour this law.As Ruth heads to the fields, the story unfolds in four scenes: welcome, blessing, meal, and provision. In all of these, Boaz points to what God does for us in Jesus Christ.Reflect on the character of God, who is concerned about the needs of His people.

I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people. I am the LORD your God.Leviticus 26:12-13Here are two more principles for growing in faith in the midst of sorrow.Remember that the LORD has made a covenant with you. “LORD” in four capital letters is the name used in relation to the covenant God made with His people. The LORD said, “I… will be your God, and you shall be my people” (26:12). Naomi speaks of God as the “Almighty,” recognising His sovereignty. But she speaks more about God as “the LORD,” recognising His unbreakable covenant with us.God said, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned... For I am the LORD your God” (Isa. 43:2-3).That’s what we hold on to. That covenant was sealed by the blood of God’s Son, who came into our world of sorrow to redeem us and to bring us into the everlasting joy of His presence.Walk with the Man of Sorrows. Isaiah spoke about the Saviour who would come as a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief (53:3). Naomi’s words could easily describe the experience of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus could say, as no one else could ever say, “The hand of the LORD has gone out against me” (Ruth 1:13). Jesus could say, as no one else could ever say, “The Almighty has brought calamity upon me” (1:21).If you can see that Jesus knows what grief is like, you will be drawn to walk with Him in your sorrow. Any path on which you come closer to Him will be blessed, even if it is a path you would never have chosen to walk.What parallels do you see between your own sufferings and those of Jesus? How could this give you strength in times of trouble?

The Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me… The Almighty has brought calamity upon me…Ruth 1:20-21How are we to overcome the waves of sorrow, the distortions of grief, and the bitterness that lurks at sorrow’s door? A beautiful strategy unfolds in Naomi’s example. Here is the first of three principles for growing in faith in times of loss: affirm that God is sovereign.Naomi speaks about God in two ways, and both are important. First, she describes God as “the Almighty.” When suffering comes, we feel our helplessness. This is true when you lose a loved one, are diagnosed with a serious illness, or are caught up in a traumatic event.You know you are not in control, so it is natural to ask who is. There are only three possibilities. God is in control, evil has triumphed, or no one is in control, and it is random chance. Naomi speaks with faith here when she recognises the hand of God even in the hardest things.A couple lost their son through a tragic illness, so they went to their pastor looking for something to cling to in their sorrow. The pastor identified with their pain and then said, “I don’t know what to tell you, except that sometimes even God makes mistakes.”There is no comfort in a God who makes mistakes, no help in a God who lets things slip through His fingers, no hope in a God who can’t get His will done. Naomi gives us a marvellous example of faith. In the depth of her sorrow she affirms, “I believe in God Almighty.”When you face difficulties, is it easier to believe that God is in control, that evil has triumphed, or that no one is in control? What would it take to move you to a place of affirming with Naomi, “I believe in God Almighty”?

“Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty.”Ruth 1:20-21Here are two more truths we learn from how Naomi navigates her grief.Grief distorts. “I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty” (1:21). When Naomi left Bethlehem, she had a husband and two sons. None of them are with her now. When she left, she may have been prosperous, but she came back in poverty. So, what Naomi says is true, but it is not the whole truth.Why did she go away? She went away because there was a famine. Life was not as full as her grieving memory was suggesting. If the Lord brought her back empty, then who is this beside her? Ruth has made an extraordinary commitment to her.Grief embellishes what God has given in the past and it loses sight of what God is giving now. Making much of what God has given will help you to bear what He has taken away.Bitterness lurks at sorrow’s door. “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara” (1:20). Naomi means “pleasant,” and Mara means “bitter.” Was Naomi bitter or is she saying that her experience had been bitter? There’s a big difference. There may have been times when bitterness got the better of her. But it did not win the battle with this godly woman.When you endure sorrow, watch out for bitterness. If you allow it to grow, it will take hold and spill out into the lives of others. You are a redeemed child of God. Bitterness has no place in your life. Put it away!Are there any areas of your life where the seeds of bitterness are beginning to grow? Ask God to help you root them out.

The two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?”Ruth 1:19Ten years had passed since Naomi left Bethlehem. Three bereavements had taken their toll and when she arrived home with Ruth, her friends barely recognised her. The first thing they would say would be, “How’s Elimelech?”“Oh, he died shortly after we arrived in Moab.”“Oh, Naomi, we are so sorry. You were left with the two boys… How are they doing?”“Both of them died too.”No wonder the whole town was stirred. In Naomi’s response, we will gather three truths for navigating sorrow, as well as a strategy for growing in faith. Here is the first truth.“Call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me” (1:20). When Naomi began the journey back home, it seemed that she was doing well. But in Bethlehem, she was hit by a new wave of sorrow. This was where Elimelech had courted her. This was where the boys had been born. Memories flooded back and she was overwhelmed with sorrow.Everyone who endures trauma or loss knows what this is like. You think you have got through the crisis, and then something triggers a new wave of sorrow. To your surprise, your loss feels even more painful than before. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Waves of sorrow will come and go in the wake of shock, trauma, and loss.Is there a sorrow or loss you are dealing with today? What comfort do you find in the experiences of Naomi?

Ruth said… “Where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you."Ruth 1:16-17Ruth makes a marvellous commitment to Naomi, and we see three marks of this loving commitment in her words.Love commits to God. “Your God [shall be] my God” (1:16). Ruth is saying, “I have watched you love your God through three losses. I have felt His love through your love. What I have seen, I want for myself. So, your God has become my God.”Love commits to God’s people. “Your people shall be my people” (1:16). This would not have been easy for Ruth. Naomi was going home to her own people. Ruth would arrive as a foreigner. But Ruth was determined to embrace the people of God.Love commits forever. “Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried” (1:17). Ruth’s faith does not depend on Naomi. Ruth’s faith is her own, and she is saying, “God will be my God, even when you die.”Where does this kind of love come from? It comes from Jesus. He committed Himself in love to God’s will. He committed Himself in love to God’s people. And He committed Himself in love to us forever. He said, “I’ll come and live where you live, and die where you die.”But it did not end there. He rose from the dead and He says to us today, “Wherever you go, I will go. I will never leave you. I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”What do you know of this kind of love? If you want to know more of it, look to Jesus.

They lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. And [Naomi] said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods…”Ruth 1:14-15Orpah is a sad example of temporary faith. Ruth and Orpah had come under the influence of Naomi, and there is good reason to believe that they had made some profession of faith. But while Ruth persevered, Orpah turned back.Naomi says, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods.” Notice Naomi does not tell her to go back to her gods. A godly woman would never do that. But Naomi discerns Orpah’s heart: She is going back to what she loves most—her people and her gods.Jesus spoke about this in the Parable of the Sower. When the farmer sowed his seed, some fell in shallow soil, and it grew for a while but then withered because it did not have deep roots. Some sprang up quickly but it was eventually choked by weeds.Orpah had a genuine love for Naomi. She had set out on the journey, ready to make great sacrifices. But she found herself of two minds. Part of her wanted to believe and follow. Part of her wanted to turn back. She was torn, but she made her decision.Scripture says that in the last days people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. They will have “the appearance of godliness, but [deny] its power” (2 Tim. 3:2-5).Here are people who look like Christians and talk like Christians, but they have never really experienced the lifechanging power of the gospel. Somewhere along the line, they will turn away from the faith.Love chooses, and we all choose what we love the most. What you choose reveals what you love.What are some things that might keep you from choosing God?

Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The LORD grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!Ruth 1:8-9The book of Ruth is a love story. As events unfold in these ordinary lives, we will see three distinguishing marks of genuine love. First, we see that love considers.Naomi had moved to Moab, but she never really belonged there. So, when she heard that the famine in Bethlehem was over, she wanted to head back home. Ruth and Naomi decided to go with her (1:7).But at some point, they stopped, and we come to this moving scene: Naomi tells her daughters-in-law that they should go back. Orpah kisses Naomi and returns to her home. Ruth clings to Naomi and continues on in the journey.Naomi is often criticised for what she says here. Was she abandoning her daughters-in-law to idols? Here are four reasons to believe that Naomi’s words were a genuine expression of love.Love seeks the blessing of God on others. Naomi’s words are a prayer of blessing. She wants them to know God’s kindness and to enjoy His peace.Love puts the interests of others above its own. If Naomi had been thinking about her own interests, she would have done all that she could to keep Ruth and Orpah with her.Love never forces its will on another person. Naomi was the matriarch of this family, and she could have imposed her will if she had wanted to. But she wants the women to make their own decision, free from obligation.Love is candid about the cost of commitment. Naomi said, “Turn back… Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands?” (1:11). If Ruth and Orpah continue on in this journey, their odds of finding another husband are slim.Reflect on the ways Jesus demonstrated these four marks of genuine love for us.

The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel!”Ruth 4:14When you bring ordinary people and our extraordinary God together, you get a story of redemption. The words redeem, redeemer, and redemption occur 23 times in the 85 verses of the book of Ruth, so in order to understand this book, you have to meet the Redeemer.A redeemer is a person who brings the best out of the worst at his own expense. That is what Boaz did for Ruth, and this is what Jesus Christ will do for us. He is the great Redeemer. He brings the best out of the worst. He does this by making us His own, bringing us into His family, and giving us a glorious inheritance.He does these things at His own expense: “You were ransomed [or redeemed]… not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Pet. 1:18-19). This is what it cost for Jesus to redeem us, but He did what it took when He laid down His life for us. As the women said to Naomi, “The LORD... has not left you… without a redeemer!” (Ruth 4:14).This is why there is hope for each one of us. Your losses may be many, your sorrows may be great, and your burdens may be heavy, but there is a Redeemer. Jesus Christ will work for you and through you. There are future joys He has already prepared for you. And there are people He has already planned to bless through you.Pray this prayer: Father, thank you that our lives, loves, and losses are woven into Your hidden plan to bring blessing to the world. Help me to show Your kindness to those around me. You have not left us without a Redeemer. Help me to look to Him in faith, in hope, and in love.

I will bless you… and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.Genesis 12:2,3Right from the start we need to understand that the lives, loves, and losses of these ordinary people are woven into God’s hidden plan to bring blessing to the world. This story is about Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. But the central character is God Himself. Everything good comes from His hand, and we will see three truths about Him.God cares about ordinary people. The book of Ruth is sandwiched between Judges and 1 Samuel, which are both concerned with national and international crises. In the middle is the story of ordinary people who matter to God as much as any king. God cares about people who struggle to make a living, face difficult choices, are anxious about their children, and want to do the best they can.God is at work even in the worst of times. We will see that Naomi and Ruth return to the Promised Land. Ruth marries Boaz and God gives them a child. The story begins with Naomi weeping but ends with Naomi rejoicing with the baby in her arms. This baby will be the grandfather of King David, and into his line, the Lord Jesus Christ will be born. God’s big-picture purpose is to bring blessing to the world.God works through the kindness of His people. God blessed Ruth through the example of Naomi, God blessed Naomi through the kindness of Ruth, God blessed Ruth through the kindness of Boaz, and God blessed Boaz through the initiative of Naomi.God works for and through these people. Each one receives blessings from the others. And each one brings blessings to the others. Their faith, hope, and love shine like a light in the darkness. God works through the kindness of His people.Who is the Naomi you can befriend and comfort? Who is the Ruth you can help and provide for? Who is the Boaz you can strengthen and encourage?