Imagine being a church getting a letter from Paul. Paul, the famous missionary who is going around and starting churches all over the known world. You are excited to hear from him, and you see this scolding in the letter. I think it would be hard to not take the letter at that very moment and not tear it up! I could not believe how this would have made the people in Corinth feel! The Bible tells us here that they were not acting like Christians! They cared more about their status in the church than the actual progression of their faith and trust in the Lord. Their faith and gatherings were not about Jesus. They were about themselves and who had helped lead them and the position and standing that gave them in the church. Paul has to call them out and he holds nothing back. God makes it very clear that this is not how we are supposed to be! It is interesting, the wording here is that they were acting like mere humans. They were acting like the world. As Christians I think sometimes we forget that there is a supernatural influence in our lives. We have the helper! We have the Holy Spirit who is there for us, who indwells us at the moment of regeneration and acceptance of salvation. This makes us different from the rest of the world. It is what makes us different from just another religion. We have a real change! Paul, seeing that they are not acting any differently, looks at this fact and rebukes them for still acting as the way of the world. It is a reminder for us to focus on what really matters and to always be intentional about growth in our lives. It is not easy at times to hear from those who we admire and be torn down, like Corinth is here. But it is precisely what they needed to hear! Rebuke is not a bad thing! It takes a heart of humility to hear these seemingly harsh words and look inward and say, “I do need to change.” Do not forget what is really important. It is not our worldly status or things that we have, but our position in Christ! He is the one who came to save! Living in Christlikeness is the command we have here on this earth! Continue to walk in the Lord and focus on Jesus!

The human body is fascinating and every part of it is necessary and serves a beautiful purpose. It’s remarkable to know that our bodies have the ability to regenerate and repair itself. A few other notable facts are that the skin can be grafted from one part of the body to grow on another part. It is the human body’s largest organ and is constantly renewing itself. And wow, did you know that when you receive information through one of your senses, the signal travels from your nerves to your brain at over 100 miles per hour or that the human heart pumps 5.5 liters of blood per minute. So, during an average lifetime, it will pump nearly 1.5 million barrels of blood—enough to fill 200 train cars. And that our blood travels 60,000 miles through the body daily. Our eyes can distinguish over 10 million colors, and the nose can detect over 1 trillion different scents. Most sacred of all, our bodies have the power to procreate—to create life.

In 1 Corinthians Paul compares the Body of Christ, the Church, to the human body. The Body of Christ is just as incredible and purposeful. As followers of Christ, we the Church are one big family, maybe not blood related, but related through the blood of Christ, and a living entity. There is deep interconnectedness and mutual responsibility within the community of believers. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

All believers are one in Christ and should demonstrate the same concern for one another. For those who have been bought by the blood of Jesus Christ, spiritual gifts have been given and are meant to be exercised in unity for the building up of the believers and the reaching of the unsaved. What happens to any member of the body happens to all members of the body. God designed us as One. The time is NOW. It’s time to put to use our Spirit given gifts, our intricately designed bodies, and those 27 bones, 29 joints, 123 ligaments, 31 muscles, 48 nerves and 30 arteries in our hands. It’s a mark of maturity when we make a shift from serving our own desires to partnering with others to do unified Kingdom service. We are stronger together.

In 1858 Abraham Lincoln gave his house divided speech upon accepting the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. In that speech he quoted Mark 3:25, “And if a house divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand” (ESV). Lincoln was warning that America had to deal with the slavery issue otherwise the nation would split and fall. Lincoln's words would be prophetic as the nation would divide and be at war within a couple of years. Paul has a similar warning to the church in Corinth. Paul was concerned with divisions within the church. Paul was preaching unity to these early believers because of the worldly temptations they had, especially in Corinth. A city known for vast sexual immorality and other worldly vices. For these believers to stay true to Christ, they must stay unified. Paul asks three questions: Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? These three questions all drive the same point home: Is Jesus supreme in your faith? Paul’s warning hits home today. Am I allowing someone or something to take the place of supremacy in my faith? Maybe, we look at the church as a place that should serve me. We want to laugh and be entertained by the sermon, worship must hit the right way, and the gathering must be evaluated against our needs and wants. Believers are to gather to energize each other by learning God’s Word, being thankful, praising God, and using our gifts and talents to serve the church family. To build the kingdom properly there is no room for disunity, personal preferences, or personality conflicts. We as a church are a family and are to embrace all the responsibilities that go with it.

Is Christ divided? Does Jesus hold the top spot on your priorities for today? If not, what are you dividing Christ with? What needs to change to make Jesus top priority? Paul ends this section with how important the Gospel of Jesus is. We cannot have a close relationship with Jesus and be a consumer when it comes to the church. Reaching our family and friends that don’t know Jesus is very important. Let’s not let my personal preferences or apathy hinder the Gospel. Abraham Lincoln’s priorities were in the proper order, which made him a great leader that God used to help end slavery.

When we have the proper focus and priorities, our relationship with God is strong and builds unity in the church. What is dividing Jesus in your life?

In the American church it is very easy to follow the celebrity preachers. The ones who are all over social media showing off the amazing things that are going on in their communities and churches. I am not downplaying their impact on the communities around them and the Gospel impact that is being spread through them. However, just like the Church in Corinth we too must be careful that we are not following man but that we are following Jesus! Now most of us are reading this thinking “Well yeah, I agree with that statement, I don’t follow man I follow Jesus in my walk,” but we must be careful to not be blinded by this truth.
As a sports fan we tend to be so loyal to our teams that no matter what happens we continue to support them. Whether the good, the bad, or even the ugly we remain loyal to them. I wonder as Christians if we have the same loyalty to God? Do we remain faithful to God, the church, or even our faith in general as we go through life? We all know that throughout life we are going to experience good, bad, and even ugly times. I think way too often people tend to follow man without even noticing it. To help, I have listed just a couple of questions to spark a thought in our minds to keep us aware of where our loyalty rests.

1. Do I defend a group or leader when they act contrary to the word of God?
2. Is my faith centered on a person or organization rather than Jesus?
3. Would my faith collapse if a particular leader disappointed me?

Once again these are just a couple of questions for us to examine our trust. I often tell people while I am preaching to look back on their notes and study God’s word in their personal studies. I can firmly state that no one at Emmanuel preaching will lead you astray. But if we are not going back and looking over the text that is preached on and studying the word of God for ourselves, are we trusting man's word over Jesus? With the culture we live in I often hear about these amazing YouTube pastors or social media influencers that are dropping these amazing thoughts on passages and people are not fact checking to see if it's true!

I encourage you to examine yourself today, Christianity has always involved learning from other people. The issue is not listening to teachers, it's when we treat any teacher as the final authority instead of Jesus.

When God saves a person, he does not leave that person powerless. In fact, every disciple of Jesus has been given spiritual gifts that are meant to be used for Kingdom growth and influence (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:11). The question is not whether or not we have them; the question is WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THEM?

One of the key words that must be spoken in relationship to every Christian is the word potential. One of the things that we do as a pastoral and leadership team is “track the health” of our church in the form of CONNECT-GROW-LIVE. The Connect part focuses on evangelistic-type connection to Jesus and edification-type connection to one another. The Grow part focuses on Christian education in the form of “next steps of growth” as we live in community with one another. The Live part focuses on involvement in the ministry - being the “hands and feet of Jesus” doing the ministry in both our church and community.

What our team has found is that about 20-25% of our church is involved in weekly service to one another &/or our community. Now, before that really shocks or discourages you, that percentage is actually higher than the average church. With that said, think of the number of people who are not reaching their potential in serving our God. Could that be you?
When Paul began his letter to the Corinthian church, he made sure to remind them of how blessed they really were. They had been given an excess of spiritual gifts as a church. They had knowledge. They had multiple gifted speakers. They had the ability to defend and speak truth. Paul told them that they are “rich” in spiritual gifts. They had the potential to do great things for God. Remember, potential doesn’t guarantee progress, purpose, or production! If you jump ahead a bit in the chapter, you soon find out that they were NOT putting those spiritual gifts to good practice. Instead, they were allowing their spiritual gifts to cause pride that was creating unnecessary alienation, animosity, and anxiety in the church. They were failing to reach their full potential.

Think of this, Paul said something in the text that is really important and often gets glossed over. He reminded the Corinthians that their spiritual gifts were in connection to their “eager anticipation” of the return of Jesus Christ. It seems that if we are focused on the return of Christ, instead of being obsessed with all the fleeting pleasures of this world, we will live with urgency. Maybe that’s the problem! The American church is really good at “going through the motions” as if people’s destinies are not at stake, consequences for sin don’t exist, and we have plenty of time to get right with God. That’s a dangerous way to live.
If you knew that you had a certain amount of time left on this earth, would it change how you live your life? If you knew that Jesus Christ was going to return on a certain date, would it change what you are focusing on in the present? We have all known plenty of people in our culture, whether athletes, politicians, actors, business owners, etc. who “shot up through the ranks quickly” with all kinds of gifts and potential…only to eventually fail! Why? Because in many cases they took what they had for granted. The Corinthians took what they had for granted. Do NOT make that mistake. You have spiritual gifts that are meant to be “activated” for the glory of God and the good of others! Here’s what I would suggest you do to make sure you are reaching your full potential for Christ:

1. Pray. God will show you.
2. Ask Godly people to tell you what they see in you for ministry.
3. Read and seek to understand the verses about spiritual gifts.
4. Get involved. It doesn’t matter where. Just get started. Fill out the volunteer sign-up sheet here, and we will help you get involved: https://weareemmanuel.life/serving.

Week 1
Main Point and Overview:   

As a parent, you tend to repeat yourself when your kids are not listening to you. The Apostle Paul had a lot to say to the Corinthian church that he had to keep saying over and over again. In all reality, the Corinthians were a lot like the modern-day American church. Filled with potential, power, prosperity, and promise, she had the greatest opportunity for Gospel influence. Sadly, she was not realizing her full potential being bogged down in immature sins that should have been already resolved. The truth is that God has equipped each and every person within his church with spiritual gifts that are meant to be “lived out” for his honor and glory. Here at Emmanuel, we are a lot like the Corinthians in that we have been enriched with knowledge, talent, and most importantly, the necessary spiritual gifts to do great things for God. The question: are we fully taking advantage of what God has given to us? For the Corinthians, we soon find out that the answer is a “resounding no!” They had become consumed with independence, and it was crushing their unity and drive toward one goal – Gospel impact! It becomes very evident in that they were enamored with personalities instead of purpose. Instead of making the mission their sole drive, they became “me-centric” following their favorite spiritual “personalities!” In modern-day America, we have celebrity pastors, podcasters, speakers, and everyone “drools” over these people’s next greatest catchy saying, book, or funny story. We’ve become immature. We no longer thirst for Gospel truth; we thirst for entertainment. We follow men instead of God. When this happens, it is only a matter of time before your faith will be shipwrecked. Why? Because people come and go. Generations come and go. Styles come and go. Jesus is forever. He is the Savior, not a single pastor, speaker, or leader in the modern-day Evangelical movement. So, maybe it’s time to grow up! Maybe it’s time to become a productor and not a consumer. Maybe it’s time to be mature enough to learn truth even from a “boring” speaker. The Corinthians had allowed their opinions and preferences to divide their church, weakening their influence. We can never be guilty of such a sad reality. Instead, we must replace superficial with selflessness!

Above all else. Living life demands priority. We wake up each morning with our “to do’s” and “honey do’s,” but when it comes right down to it, no matter how important the list may be, there can only be one “Number one.” Even for the most proficient multi-tasker, you can still truly only focus on one thing at a time. I remember when I was given my first “organizer.” This was pre-iPhone days, so we are talking the small binder with all sorts of tabs that gave you means to write down everything you need to do by the hour, by the day, by the month, and so on. It had tabs for contacts, and pockets for receipts. I mean it had everything. I even went to a class on how to use it. But you know what, in the end I reverted to management by list and Sticky Notes. And even with the “Gee-whiz” technology and apps of today, I still pretty much use a pad of paper. Now don’t get me wrong, organization and prioritization are important, but in the end, there is still a pecking order of things to be done with only one “number one.” In today’s passages, Paul is cautioning his readers…and this includes us… that our “number one” must always be the pursuit of God’s will. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” As followers of Christ, we KNOW that God, in all things, works for the good of those who love Him. In this passage, “works” is an active verb. Meaning God is not “one and done.” He is actively working. Why? Because He has given us a calling to His purpose. That is and must always be our number one purpose. As the reminder of this passage continues, this purpose is to be conformed to the image of His son, Christ. Romans 12:1-2 gives us the “how” of being conformed. To offer ourselves a living sacrifice, to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, and to be able to “be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” The world tells us, “Act fast” and “Do it now.” We must ask ourselves if we are acting fast on God’s will first? When we make pursuing God’s will above all else, whether our marriage, family life, job, and even ministry, we must always keep the main thing the main thing, pursuing God’s will. And when we keep that our priority, all our other priorities fall into place.

I love a good story, especially love stories! Some of my favorite movies are romances. I’m a sucker for a hallmark movie! Yes, even though they are cheesy and we can usually guess the storyline in the first 5 minutes! Today we wrap up the story of Ruth in the final verses of the book. Maybe you saw it coming, maybe you didn’t, but the story is complete and the piece of the puzzle is now revealed! Boaz and Ruth get married and have a son, named Obed. Naomi went from losing her husband and her sons to gaining a grandson. The family name would now be carried on and continued because of Boaz redeeming Naomi and Ruth. I always love a happy ending! But it gets better! Maybe like the cheesy hallmark movies, you too predicted that Ruth and Boaz were going to get married. But I bet you didn’t see this coming. Here comes the plot twist! Their son Obed would later become the father of Jesse, and Jesse would become the father of DAVID! KING DAVID!!!!!!! That would make Ruth the great grandmother of David. Um…this means she is in the direct genealogical line of Jesus Christ. You can read about the lineage of Jesus in Matthew or Luke's account. Talk about an upgrade! From being poor, widowed, and childless to being directly related to Jesus Christ! Ruth and Naomi could finally connect the dots. God's direction over their lives, the reason for their struggle and waiting, was now making sense. God had BIG plans for them. Ruth's determination, humility, and faithfulness changed the course of history. What if she had gone back to her hometown like Orpah? She didn’t though. She did the hard thing. The right thing. And in the end, it was worth it! Faithfulness doesn’t go unrecognized by our Heavenly Father. Ruth stuck with it even through the struggle. Later, her character was rewarded, and God took care of her far beyond what she could have imagined, and God will do the same for us! Romans 8:28: “And we know in all things that God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.” Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. Ruth 4:13-17

As I think back to the tragic opening of the book of Ruth: the devastating family loss, the excruciating pain, and the heartache that Naomi must have had meant that not only were her family members dead, but her future was too. What a sick feeling. Some of you reading this, have experienced painful loss in your family and for that, I am sorry. God cares deeply about families and passionately cares about you. You may be going through an unbelievably difficult crisis and wondering where God is in all of it. Guess what? It’s ok for you to wonder that. Let me share with you: for the people of God, pain and sorrow is NEVER the final word. God sees you and God loves you. You are never left to navigate life alone. Please don’t isolate, please don’t try to do this on your own. Phone a friend, call the church, better yet, come to a Sunday Gathering and connect with others. Emmanuel is here for you.

This book, this story, it’s not just a story of good feels and romance. It is an incredible redemption story about a loving God whose faithfulness is unrelenting. An “aha” story about the legal roadmap of our salvation. Friend, I encourage you to take twenty minutes and read the entirety of this book again and you’ll see something amazing; the blood relative, the price, the willingness, the public gate, . . . and it all leads to the cross. Today’s reading ended with the birth of Obed, who was the father of Jesse, the father of David. This is not only the birth of a child, but the birth of a legacy that would ultimately lead to the Messiah himself. Hallelujah, God’s ways are not our ways.

Did you see this turnaround coming? It’s the greatest love story ever told, and a beautiful Joyride for Naomi indeed!

In the movie Princess Bride, there are a lot of iconic lines. Lines like “Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father prepare to die”. Or “Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder today” (it was hard to get that line through spellcheck-LOL). If you are familiar with this movie then these and many other lines will make you laugh. The theme of the movie is true love and how it cannot be stopped. In the movie there is loss, separation, and crisis that seem to foil Westley and Princess Buttercup’s relationship. In this last chapter of Ruth, we see Boaz on a mission to secure Ruth as his wife. Boaz is a godly man that has noticed Ruth, her character and her beauty. Ruth’s character is what really stood out to Boaz. We can idealize true love like in the movies or every Hallmark show ever made but love in a godly marriage relationship must be based on character. The fruit of the Spirit comes to mind. Patience, kindness, faithfulness, and self-control among others. Proverbs 20:7 says, “The righteous who walks in his integrity - blessed are his children after him!” (ESV). Character and integrity are a blessing to those around us. These characteristics in Ruth drew Boaz to her. Godly character and integrity give a relationship the ability to last a lifetime. Ruth had every excuse not to do things the right way. She suffered loss, poverty, and the uprooting of her whole life. The harder it seemed to go; the closer Ruth moved toward God. True love in the movies is a physical and emotional reaction that is supposed to end in a happily ever after. Real life relationships take work and effort and must be based in the pursuit of God to be truly purposeful. Boaz was willing to sacrifice and “redeem” Ruth. She was precious to him, and he was willing to do and make the necessary steps to secure her. Boaz was willing to sacrifice to do God’s will. Pursuing and doing God’s will is a noble pursuit which includes developing character and integrity. Like in the movie Princess Bride, true love couldn’t be stopped; a believer pursuing God’s will and purpose cannot be stopped from receiving God’s blessings. Boaz was pleasing God by pursuing Ruth and the blessing for them both was a child that would become the grandfather of King David. Boaz and Ruth loved God, pursued God, and were blessed because of it. This is a great example for us today

Have you ever had a situation where you knew it was going to be a fight to get what you wanted? If your house is like the Robertson's house, then any home project you start you will expect a challenge. Something is going to get in the way, causing you to stop and deal with the challenge before you move on to completing the task. Sarah and I often joke about when I start a project around the house. No matter if it's yard work or fixing something, the time of the project is based on one question: how many trips to the store is this going to take? In home repairs we expect a challenge, but the same is true in today's scripture reading in Ruth.

Boaz knew he was supposed to redeem Ruth and care for Naomi, but before he did he ran into a challenge. There was another guardian-redeemer who had the first legal rights to the land and to Ruth. I imagine that at that moment Boaz may have felt defeated or like he wanted to give up, but he chose to continue on. He didn't panic, he chose to face the challenge with wisdom and patience. I have heard that when we face challenges in our lives they are not always there to stop you. Sometimes they happen to strengthen your faith, reveal your character, and prepare you for what God is about to do. In the end Boaz was able to complete the transaction for the land and to care for Ruth and Naomi. We can learn from Boaz that we are called to trust God while handling obstacles in our lives. Ruth teaches us that we must remember even when we may not see it, that God is still working behind the scenes.

We need to expect challenges but also expect God to remain faithful through them!

We have all encountered times in our lives where we had to take a “step of faith” not knowing how things would turn out. I remember coming to Emmanuel almost 14 years ago to be the lead pastor here. I was coming off of almost 17 years of youth ministry, much of which God really blessed. I remember a specific conversation I had with my wife Tami where she asked me, “You do well with teenagers, but are you sure that you can work well with adults?” ? Over the years, we have had a good laugh on that one. Of course, her question was a legitimate one. When I came to Emmanuel, I didn’t know how it would go, but I took a risk and trusted the Lord. While I haven’t been perfect, making plenty of mistakes, God has been faithful to me, my family, and our church family.

At this point in the story, Boaz knew that he wanted to marry Ruth. With that decision, came a lot of other ripple effects including property responsibilities. He was NOT the first family member in line to “buy” the property of Elimelech, so he used great wisdom to leverage an opportunity that he felt God had put onto his heart. Meeting his relative at the town gate, he cleverly presented his case to the relative. First he brought in new information not yet mentioned in our story - Elimelech, Naomi’s deceased husband, still had property in the area that was now for sale. As the nearest relative, this man had the first right to buy the land (Leviticus 25:25), which he instantly agreed to do. Then, Boaz reminded his relative that in order to purchase the land, he also had to marry the widow of the man who had inherited the property (vs. 5 | Elimelech as father to Mahlon as son). This stipulation caused instant discomfort in Boaz’ relative leading him to relinquish his “right” because he did not want to complicate his own family inheritance. He may have thought that if he had a son with Ruth, then her children would get a portion of the inheritance that he wanted to give to his current children.

Boaz made the “hard effort.” In other words, he did not allow an obstacle to deter him from his opportunity. How many times do we see the obstacles being greater than the opportunities? When I came to Emmanuel, I had already been “turned down” by other churches. In fact, my youth ministry was larger than some of these churches, which you can imagine inflamed my pride. Just before I began to look for a new church to serve in as a lead pastor, I remember the last day of our outreach night. When I came home that night, I told my wife that this was the last time I would ever pick up kids again at that church. That was a year before we left to come to Emmanuel. I had been prematurely convinced that God was done with me in that church when he wasn’t. It would have been really easy to see that “obstacle” as a reason to “give up” on his calling for my life. Instead, I waited until his timing and the opportunity was crystal clear.

How quick are you to “give up” on what God has laid on your heart to do? I’m so glad that we have the tenacity of Boaz to study. He was a man of great integrity, but it didn’t stop there. He took that “shining character” and combined it with “unstoppable passion” to get what he felt was God’s will for his life. There are a lot of people who are “good” people in the sense of having strong character, but how many of them combine that testimony with tenacious passion? How many of them stretch their brains to find solutions to problems? How many of them “push” their employees to help them to “grow?” How many of them take the time to invest in something that might take a lot of time before they see the “returns?” I think you get the point. Boaz didn’t give up when he was met with an obstacle. Be like Boaz.

Week 4
Main Point and Overview:   

The Will of God is worth “giving everything that you have” to experience! Sometimes, God lays out for us an opportunity that is meant just for us. In this moment, he exposes how serious we actually are about pursuing this opportunity. Boaz was a man of passionate integrity and compassion. He saw Ruth as a special lady who was worthy of his time, attention, and provision. There is no doubt that he must have noticed her beauty, but in reality, he was more attracted to her character (as proven by his praises of her in God’s Word). He wholeheartedly believed that it was God’s Will for him to marry her, providing for her and her family for years to come. So, he called for a meeting at the town gate with the very people who were before him in the line of succession of the Jewish kinsman-redeemer responsibility (as previously explained in last week’s sermon description). At first, it didn’t appear as if he would be able to marry Ruth, but after some discussion, circumstances changed, and she would become his wife. He never gave up, and God blessed his effort. What’s truly amazing about this story is that Ruth went from being a poor foreign girl to being in the genealogical line of Jesus Christ. She would be the great-grandmother of King David. What an amazing “turnaround” for a couple of women who lost their husbands, their security, and their joy…except Ruth never lost her joy! She stayed faithful to Naomi, and over time, God provided. Her faithful impact on her mother-in-law led to Naomi’s joy being restored. Once filled with bitterness and frustration, Naomi could now see God’s gracious plan being played out in his perfect timing. Can you imagine having that kind of impact on your family because of your steadfast faith in God no matter what circumstances came into your life? Realize that the most important thing that you can ever do with your life is to pursue the Will of God in your prosperity as well as in your pain. God never promised you an easy life, but he did promise you purpose, joy, and contentment when you “follow after” him. So many times, we are quick to wallow in bitterness, but God demands more of us. He requires that we trust him, and that we pursue the “next step” of his will, choosing to be “better not bitter” in the glorious process.

“Be patient!” How many times have you said that to your child? And how many times did you hear that as a child from your parents? I think it is safe to say that for everyone who is reading this, multiple times over and over. Patience does not come easily because we tend to be pursuers of immediate gratification. In the movie “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (the original 1971 is the best version), the character Varuca Salt is the little girl who sings in a tirade about wanting it all now. It was about the consequences of impatience. In the end, Veruca does get her comeuppance for her behavior. A lesson to be learned through a children’s story. In today’s passage, we see the opposite of such behavior in Ruth. She had already proven herself to be loyal to Naomi. In Ruth chapter two, we see God’s plan beginning to unfold as her faithfulness and humility gets the attention of Boaz, a wealthy landowner. In chapter three, we see the relationship between Ruth and Boaz grow, as he sees the honor in Ruth. Throughout, Ruth shows patience. Even though she has no idea the plan and path that God has laid before her, she faithfully takes each step in faith. Ruth 3:18 says, “Then Naomi said, “’Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.” Wait until you find out what happens! God’s work in our life is a process. Sometimes things happen quickly, but often it is the day-by-day steps of faith where we don’t know the outcome, that we must still move forward. Ruth had no idea the incredible way God would use her in the time to come. When I look back at my life both personally and professionally, I never imagined I would wind up where I am. The things I wanted answers for, and how I thought I could plot my way to my will over God’s will because I wanted it “now.” Let’s just say I am so glad that God showed patience with me, because the things I sought pale into what God has blessed me with now. Don’t be a “Veruca Salt” but rather a “Ruth.” Be patient in the process, and trust God’s timing because it is always perfect.

The night before my wedding I could barely sleep! The anticipation and excitement of the day ahead was all I could think of. I couldn’t wait for my soon to be husband to see my dress. I couldn’t wait to celebrate with family and friends. I wondered what the weather would be like (storms were predicted). I wondered how everything would come together. I thought of how my life was about to change! Those nervous jitters I had were nothing compared to Ruth in this chapter! Here she is approaching Boaz at night and hoping Boaz will agree to be a guardian redeemer for her family (AKA-MARRY HER!). What does he say? In a nut shell, he says “Maybe. If my other relative won’t.” Can you imagine trying to sleep that night not knowing if you’d be marrying Boaz or a total stranger? Yikes! “Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your guardian-redeemer, good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives I will do it. Lie here until morning,” (Verse 13). You see, Boaz was doing the right thing. He knows he is qualified to marry Ruth due to being a relative of Elimelek, Naomi's husband. Yet, he was a distant relative compared to another man in the family. Boaz tells Ruth it’s only right for the other to have “first dibs” on her, before he does. In the morning, he sends her back to Naomi with plenty of food. Boaz is always such a gentleman! He’s doing the right thing by asking his relative first and then he also makes sure Ruth and her mother in law have plenty to eat in the meantime.

The great news here is that whether it’s Boaz or another male in the family, Ruth and Naomi were about to be taken care of. The struggle was about to be over and a guardian redeemer was going to rescue them by marrying Ruth! The only problem was, they didn’t know who it would be. Ruth not once complained or questioned Boaz’ decision. She understood, and now it was time to wait and see what was going to happen next. I’m sure in Ruth's mind she didn’t matter who it was, she just genuinely wanted a better life for her mother in law, Naomi. The chapter ends without us knowing who it is! It’s like watching a dating show and not knowing who they will choose in the next episode. Am I right? Although we have to read on to find out who Mr. Right is, we can take an important lesson away from verses 12-15 in this chapter. In life, we won’t always know the answers right away or know how a certain situation will unfold. What we do know is this: God is with us in the waiting. He already knows how our situation will turn out. We don’t have to figure it all out, we just need to stay close to God. “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord,” (Psalm 27:14). While we wait, we must be strong and take heart. I believe that is just what Ruth did. Boaz even calls her a “Woman of noble character,” in this chapter. Where else in scripture do we see a woman of noble character? Proverbs 31. Oh to be like Ruth!

“The Lord bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character," Ruth 3:10-11.

What a beautiful opening. Boaz prays. Even with the unexpected turn of events, he chooses to pray, "May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter”. What a good reminder that when things get tense; we should demonstrate deference to others and pray. If you’re uncertain as to what “tense” moment I’m referring to, turn back and read yesterday’s devotion and scripture. In our culture, we might think that it would have been scandalous for Ruth to lie down next to Boaz while he was sleeping and perhaps wondering why she’s a recipient of such favor and blessing?

Ruth has demonstrated something incredibly “hesed”. Hesed, pronounced KHEH-sed, when I looked into the meaning of this word, there was no single direct English translation. It encompasses an active love, a covenantal loyalty and faithfulness, a devoted love that goes far beyond what is required. You see, Ruth was not bound by levirate marriage, but chose to preserve the line of Elimelech, so that her mother-in-law Naomi would be cared for. Ruth is called a worthy woman. Worthy when she was left without a husband, worthy when her mother-in-law was left alone and bitter, worthy in a strange and foreign land, worthy while laboring in the fields, and worthy here on the dark threshing-room floor laying at the feet of the man she desired. The character of worthiness is as worthy in secret as when others are watching — and Ruth’s noble character reveals her inner beauty which seals the deal for Boaz. Ruth, a worthy woman is the perfect match for Boaz who was described as "a worthy man".

This is the sweet and momentous turning point where Ruth’s faithfulness is recognized and sets her into the blessed position in the genealogy of King David and Jesus Christ.

Sometimes God asks to do something hard, to step out in full trust of His providence. Often our first response is “why me?” or “isn’t there someone more qualified?” Ruth may have had similar feelings of doubt and a resistance to enacting the plan that Naomi had. It would require Ruth to humble herself and ask for Boaz to redeem her. She would have to trust God that she wouldn’t be rejected and harm her standing in the community and her ability to help provide for Naomi and herself. There was a lot riding on this plan. In Ruth’s time it was very hard for a widow to provide for her household. Ruth is the outsider coming from a foreign land and trying to understand and fit into the community would have added to the stress.

How we respond to God when given an opportunity says a lot about our spiritual maturity and our character. Ruth, most likely loaded with concerns and doubts, says “all that you say I will do.” Ruth’s humility and character shine during this process. How have you responded when God has asked? Look at Boaz’s response to finding Ruth lying at his feet in the middle of the night. He embraces the opportunity and goes on a mission to settle Ruth’s situation as fast as he can. Character and integrity need to show up when God has a request for us. How can we say God is the most important relationship in our life but not step out in faith when requested to do so? Ruth is asking for a big thing. Redeem me, cover me, I need what only you can provide.

A redeemer, sound familiar? We are just like Ruth, we need a redeemer, someone to fix our sin problem. A problem that cannot be solved on our own. There’s no action we could take to remedy the situation. Redeem in this passage refers to deliverance of someone that had been sold for a debt. Our debt: sin. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross paid that debt for those who believe. Ruth needed and wanted Boaz to redeem her, but she had to step out in faith and believe that Boaz would do the right thing.

This is why we must step out in faith when God asks. It may be scary, we may have doubts, but we won’t let that deter us from doing the right thing. We know God will bless our faithfulness. Are you willing to fully trust God and step out in faith? Ruth did it, so could you. Trust God, pray for guidance, and step out of your comfort zone. You will be amazed by what God can do through your actions. Step out in faith because of the grace you have received.

If I had to summarize today's devotion into one statement, it would say the following: Listen to your wise mentors. Well that also fits the title of today's devotional based on Ruth 3:5-6 which tells us this:

“I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered. So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.

It is very common for us to act on decisions without seeking wise counsel. Which often leads us to making the wrong decision and/or regretting a choice that was made. We see in chapter 3 Naomi is telling Ruth that what she was instructed to do would end up being what was best for her. Just like Ruth and Naomi we too must first build relationships that are going to speak life and truth into us. Before you can listen to wise mentors you first need to find wise mentors. I ask you today who do you consider a mentor in your life? Are these individuals speaking truth to you or telling you what you want to hear? Once you have found people who you look up to and help draw you to be more like Christ in your journey of faith, you must be willing to hear the hard truth from them when you seek their advice. Just like Ruth and Naomi, Ruth listened and followed the wise words of Naomi that night. She didn't just listen, she followed up the wisdom with action. We must understand that Ruth’s obedience was not her blindly following Naomi's words but it was rooted in trust and respect. She was able to understand Naomi cared deeply for her future so she listened.

What voices are influencing your life? Are the voices influencing your life respected, truth telling, Biblical giving advice? Or are they based on pleasure and things of this world? I encourage you today to take time and think about your mentors in your walk and pray for discernment to help find Godly counsel. Remember God can use mentors to guide us into his purpose. When we have mentors we can trust and respect just as Ruth trusted Naomi, they will not lead us astray. Rather, they help us to continue to grow.

When I was in college, I really didn’t care about dating a whole lot. I dated some girls, but I was more obsessed with serving the Lord and sports. I know, big surprise. By the time my senior year came along, I had a cute freshman that was interested in me, but in all honesty, we were going in two different directions. I had dated a girl my sophomore year, but that didn’t work out. I really had very few prospects at the time, that is until my sister decided to talk to this cute blonde about me.

That’s when it all started. We started writing letters to one another. Can you imagine that? The good ole days. A relationship was started, and we would soon go on that infamous date at Joe Louis Arena (if you know, you know). God had provided a wife for me, and a wonderful one at that. This was an important time in my life because I needed a good wife. It’s really hard to be a pastor and not have a faithful wife to share in the ministry with you. In fact, it’s near impossible.

The funny thing was that my sister told Tami that “her brother needed a wife to be a pastor,” and she wasn’t wrong. I did, and I have the best wife. The Lord did indeed provide for me. For many of you, you understand because God has provided the perfect help-meet for you.
While it may have looked a little different, Ruth needed a spouse. In fact, without one she was in danger of starvation and manipulation that often could lead to physical abuse. In the ancient world culture, the family inheritance was passed down through the son, not the daughter. So, the crafty Naomi came up with a gameplan to get her wonderful daughter-in-law a husband. She believed that God would provide.

Remember, there was a Jewish law that allowed for the “nearest relative” of a deceased man to take on the deceased man’s widow providing for her. The Mosaic Law called this person the kinsman-redeemer as he took responsibility for the extended family as well. Naomi was hoping that Boaz (her relative) would notice Ruth, and take her as his wife or point her to someone who would marry her.

So, Naomi sent Ruth to the “threshing floor” to “glean” which was her opportunity to provide for both her and her mother-in-law. The threshing floor was the place where grain was separated from the harvested wheat. The wheat stalks were crushed, and the valuable grain (inner kernels) were separated from the worthless chaff (the outside shell). Boaz would be there, and as “owner,” he would spend the night there to prevent theft and to wait his turn to harvest the grain.

What Naomi asked Ruth to do could appear to be seductive and inappropriate, but it was the opposite. According to a Jewish custom, it was commonplace for a servant to lie at the feet of his master and even share a part of his covering. This would inform the master that his servant was “asking for help” - be a kinsman-redeemer. She was in essence asking Boaz to provide for her - “marry me or find someone to marry me.” It was a cultural option or opportunity, nothing romantic.

This took a lot of trust on Naomi and Ruth’s part to do such a thing. This action could have been rejected, and it could have led to great embarrassment. Sometimes you have to take a risk to receive the reward! Are you willing to take a risk? Ruth was. What happens next is the grace of God! Make sure you read the rest of this week’s devotionals to see how it all turns out. For now, realize this, God is always working. He always provides. Do your plans have him at the center of them? If they do, get ready! He is moving and working with his glory and your good in mind!

Week 3
Main Point and Overview:

Nothing in life worth truly experiencing is free of taking a bold risk! The fact is that most Christians “play it safe” and never reach their full potential for Gospel influence. It’s also true from practical experience that most people are more likely to choose “easy” over “hard”. Missing out on greater prosperity, larger career success, and most importantly lasting legacy. Re-enter the story of Ruth and Naomi. These were two desperate women who needed a “break” to go their way. Of course, nothing happens by chance when you believe and follow God. Out of love for her daughter-in-law, Naomi came up with a plan that had the potential to change everything for these women. According to Mosaic Law, they had a possible option to help them called the “kinsman-redeemer” which was a male relative who had the privilege or responsibility to act on behalf of a relative who was in trouble, danger, or need. The Hebrew term (go el) for kinsman-redeemer designates one who delivers or rescues (Genesis 48:16; Exodus 6:6) or redeems property or person (Leviticus 27:9–25, 25:47–55). Boaz was a close relative to Naomi through her deceased husband, Elimelech. As a kinsman, he had the legal right and responsibility to marry Ruth, the widow of Naomi’s son Mahlon, to continue the family line and “redeem” the land. Naomi’s plan was to “strategically position” Ruth in front of Boaz in the evening for this to happen. Of course, there were great risks involved. What if Boaz said “no?!” What if Boaz felt as if Ruth was attempting to seduce him? What if someone else decided to “take advantage” of Ruth? None of these potential problems were going to keep Ruth from taking the ultimate risk! She did, and Boaz was impressed so much that he decided to marry her. Except, there was a catch that was out of his hands. Now, Ruth faced another challenge that would greatly test her trust in God. Sometimes in life God is clearly working in a direction in our lives to honor him and benefit us, but it’s going to take “longer” than we anticipated. We can even begin to question whether or not it is truly God’s plan to begin with. In these moments, take a deep breath and rest in him. His plan is perfect. That’s not the question. The question is: are you ready to take the risk?

Back in the summer of 1988, a big hit on the musical pop charts was the song “Don’t Worry, Be happy.” It was a simple song done entirely with voice, no instruments, which was catchy and fun. It’s message was just as the title implies, don’t worry, be happy. Worry is a topic that is addressed throughout Scripture, because it is a “sport” that many (if not all) of us excel at. My wife will tell you I can be a worry wart. Mmm…guilty. To an extent. My personality and my training in the military incline me to think out different scenarios and outcomes. To my defense, it has served us well at times. But worry can become insidious. And worry is in essence, telling God, “This problem is too big for you, so I need to take care of it.” Today’s passage is important for so many reasons, but in these verses, Jesus is telling us directly not to worry. Verse 25 states this from the outset, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life” and then proceeds to give examples that encompass everything we can possibly worry about in life. Food, clothing, esteem. Essentially, what we were taught in sociology class in high school, Lazlo’s hierarchy of needs: physiological needs, safety needs, love and belonging needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization needs. It is our God-given instinct of survival. So, if He put it there, they must be important. But where the rub occurs is when we place that above our relationship and trust in God. Seeking these needs come after first seeking God. As verse 33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” One of the first songs that really impacted me when I first became a Christian is a hymn called, “See ye first.” First released in 1971, it beautifully captures Christ’s words in this passage. And when we seek God first, a wonderful thing happens; worry fades. In verse 34, Christ tells us to not to worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. One of the many ‘isms” I’ve heard over the years is “Don’t’ go looking for trouble.” The older I have gotten, the more I have experienced its wisdom. Our greatest source of wisdom comes from the Bible, for it is God’s breathed Word to us. And Christ tells, don’t worry. Seek Him first, and what is to come will be received next. Pray on!

My mom has a bumper sticker on her truck that says, “Jesus, not luck.” What the world would define as lucky or coincidental, is God’s hand at work every time. I have heard stories from Christians in my life about being in the right place at the right time. I’ve heard about how God has met a financial need even right down to the penny. I’ve heard and seen things I can’t even begin to explain logically, because it was all God. When God puts a person or situation in our lives, He is always on time. We aren’t lucky, we’re blessed. It’s not coincidence, it's providence.

It was no accident that Ruth began to collect food for her and Naomi in Boaz’ field. Verse 20 gives us an important detail about Boaz. He was one of the guardian redeemers, some Bible versions say Kinsman redeemer. This meant he was somehow related to Naomi's husband! Small world, huh? A guardian redeemer could do a few things. They could buy back family land, provide support for vulnerable relatives, and help preserve the family line amongst other things. This information provided some hope for Ruth and Naomi! In this chapter we see the kindness Boaz shows to Ruth. Giving her extra food to take home, providing water for her while she works, and even making sure the male harvesters would leave her alone. Boaz was truly a gentleman. He shows compassion for Ruth knowing her story. Although she was a widow in a foreign land, she made up her mind to work faithfully in the fields to provide for her mother in law. Boaz notices her efforts and treats her with respect! God was in the details. There are no accidents with God. He is our Heavenly Father, caring for us as his children. Your situation is no accident. Even if you made some wrong choices, God can use it. Just as Boaz was a redeemer for Ruth, the Lord is our redeemer. Amen!

Today’s reading, just two verses might seem like small details, but press in, you do not want to miss this “more than imagined” moment.

“So Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Then she threshed the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah. She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out and gave her what she had left over after she had eaten enough.” Ruth 2:17-18

Have you ever been in desperate need? Walk with me down Christina Sue Memory Lane (aka my past) for a moment to a time when I found myself in seemingly unchartered territory. Trying to raise teenagers and care for my 95 year old grandmother with macular degeneration, a storm blew in and life as I knew it would look and feel like a puddle of mud. Left with $7, a failing auto repair business, and no money coming in to make payroll, feed the kids or pay the mortgage, I was broken-hearted, hurt, rejected, lugging around an emotional weight and allowing fear to overtake me. I wasn’t sure what to do next. One morning after dropping the kids off at school, my ears picked up on the lyrics of a new song that began playing on the radio. "I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You Lord. And I am hopeful, I'm waiting on You Lord. Though it is painful, but patiently I will wait. And I will move ahead bold and confident. Taking every step in obedience. While I'm waiting I will serve You. While I'm waiting I will worship. While I'm waiting I will not faint. I'll be running the race even while I wait. I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You Lord.”

I knew that I needed to live out those words that John Waller was singing! Psalm 37:5 came to my mind; to commit all my ways to the Lord. Friends, I’m not going to lie, things were not easy. I worked hard, I trusted God, I committed. And yep, I made a few regrettable mistakes along the way, but I forged ahead and chose to serve and worship God. And I’m excited to say, that 6000 days later- I’ve experienced more than imagined, abundantly more. God’s mercy, grace, love and providence were slathered over my story, His Story!

Ruth's desperate need turned into unexpected abundance. Commitment creates opportunity. To know the story of Ruth is to know the quiet behind-the-scenes providence of God. I imagine that Ruth had a lot of challenging days, hard days. But Ruth’s day of hard work and initiative was her worship and her bridge to opportunity. What a surprisingly abundant harvest, demonstrating God's provision and Boaz’s grace, allowing her to share both the grain and leftovers. Ruth and Naomi’s lives make a shift from desperate poverty and dependence on charity to having a surplus, hinting at the future hope and abundance they would experience.

“Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” — Abraham Lincoln.

Ruth is a woman of godly character. We see evidence of this in chapter one of Ruth. After losing her husband, she could have returned home to security and comfort but chose to stay with Naomi and trust God for her needs. This character again shines as we see Ruth humbly trying to provide for Naomi and herself. Rather than sit and wallow in grief, Ruth goes and works the fields, gathering fallen wheat from the harvesters. God commanded that landowners leave a small portion of their fields for the poor to glean from. This was hard and somewhat dangerous, a young woman in the fields with hired hands and day workers. Boaz, a distant relative of Naomi sees Ruth working in the field and is told that she has been working diligently since early morning with only a short break. Ruth wasn’t scared of hard work, she wasn’t worried about her reputation or what others thought of her. She just wanted to do the right thing for Naomi. Character revealed. Ruth is showing kindness and respect for her mother-in-law Naomi, and this will not go unnoticed.

Character is the thing that shows up when no one is looking. Character does the right thing when there is nothing to gain but doing right. In Ruth we have a great example of doing good and being kind even when it may cost us something. Character can be developed and deepened with leading of the Holy Spirit, study of Scripture and honest reflection of one’s actions. Being an individual of character is being Christlike in many ways. The more we emulate Jesus, the deeper our character becomes. Good character is not only a benefit to those around us but to ourselves also. Godly character gives us the tools to navigate this complicated and fallen world, full of disappointment and pain. Godly character allows us to enjoy life in a way that honors God.

Ruth’s kindness is repaid by Boaz. Boaz notices Ruth’s character and rewards it with making her task easier. Boaz’s character is revealed by honoring Ruth’s work by making it easier, rather than dismissing the effort and just giving her food to take back to Naomi. Boaz is drawn to Ruth, because of her humble actions and respect for Naomi. Godly character is drawn to godly character. We know that Boaz is a man of character and good reputation and he is naturally drawn to and shows kindness to Ruth, a woman of character. Character matters.

“When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.” — Billy Graham

We all have heard the saying, “The early bird gets the worm.” Which is usually true, and when we think about today's title, “Integrity gets noticed,” we can say that it’s true here as well. You see Boaz and Ruth both showing integrity in today's passage. As we dive in, I encourage you to take note of when their acts of integrity get noticed in a loud visible way.
We read in verse 4:
 “Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, The Lord be with you!”
“The Lord bless you!” they answered.

Boaz showed up to the field and greeted the harvesters with respect and blessing, he didn't show up to make a name for himself. While he was there, he noticed Ruth who was working hard and doing her job. Ruth never came over and introduced herself; she minded her business and focused on her task. Boaz noticed something different about Ruth before he knew her story fully. Character often opens doors that position alone cannot. People may not immediately recognize your faithful living, but integrity leaves evidence. In your workplace, relationships, ministry, and private decisions, consistent integrity becomes visible over time.

You see the book of Ruth teaches so many amazing things but I encourage you to be reminded that our unseen faithfulness is eventually going to be noticed. Also, do not take pride in being seen rather take pride in doing the right thing all the time. Not for yourself but because it brings honor and glory to God.