“And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s… Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance…” (Ruth 4:9,10).
TEXT — Ruth 4:1-12
Message
During World War II, a German businessman, Oskar Schindler, saved the lives of more than a thousand Jewish refugees by employing them in his factories. Schindler initially employed Jewish workers as a way to save money and increase his profits, but he eventually became deeply involved in their welfare and safety. He spent his money and risked his life to protect these helpless Jews from being sent to the Concentration Camp. When Schindler died in October 1974, many of those whose survival he facilitated – and their descendants – lobbied for and financed the transfer of his body for burial in Israel.
Our passage reveals how Ruth worked in the fields of a wealthy landowner named Boaz, who showed her kindness and care as a stranger, not knowing at the time who she was. Meanwhile, when the mother-in-law got to know that it was Boaz, a near family member of Elimelech, her late husband, she was pleased and instructed Ruth on how to approach Boaz to become the kinsman-redeemer for them. Boaz eventually bought them out of their debt and took Ruth as his wife, acting upon his duty as outlined in the Mosaic Law to redeem an impoverished relative from his or her circumstances (Leviticus 25:47-49).
The whole humanity is enslaved to sin. Jesus Christ, our Kinsman-redeemer came, paid the debt on the cross and redeemed us through His blood. If you are willing to accept him as your Lord and Saviour, He will redeem you from whatever debt of sin you owe.
Jesus cares for you beyond your imagination. He has paid the price for your total redemption and like Ruth, you can now enjoy total freedom, fruitfulness and fulfilment in life.
Thought for the day
Jesus as our nearer kinsman has paid the price in full.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
4 comments
Observed error in the Thought for the day
The last four words is a cut and past error from yesterday’s.
Observed error in the Thought for the day
The last four words is a cut and past error from yesterday’s.
Error corrected
Thanks for the lesson. God bless you
Blessed be God in whom we have a sacrificial near kingsman,Jesus Christ-the only begotten Son of God.Reb