At New Hope Church we have been journeying through The Story, a 31 chapter book that organizes the Bible into chronological form. I have been loving walking through the epic of God’s love in redeeming a people for His glory.
This last week we we looked at the story of Ruth, a Moabite who lost here Israelite husband. Ruth’s story is a beautiful illustration of God’s desire to bring those who are “outside” the faith “inside.”
Cutting to the chase Ruth meets Boaz who is a kinsmen-redeemer. This means he is in a place to marry her to continue the line of Ruth’s husband who had died. This would take risk for the kinsmen-redeemer would also have secure the property that was involved. Before Boaz could complete this act of redemption he had to see if another closer kinsmen-redeemer would and could redeem Ruth. Boaz approaches the other man to explain the situation.
6 At this, the kinsman-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.”Ruth 4:6 (NIV84)
Ruth is a beautiful picture of restoration and redemption. Boaz was willing and able to redeem. Thank God, He is willing and able to redeem us. Jesus paid the ultimate price for our redemption. Once we were on the outside and know we are on the inside. We are a part of His family, and our inheritance is secure.
Redemption and restoration costs and is risky. The other kinsmen-redeemer was not able to risk his own estate to redeem Ruth. “What am I willing to risk to restore or redeem another?” Yes Jesus paid the price for our forgiveness and our redemption. His price was enough. When we follow Him we will be asked to pay the price to bring others to Jesus. Throughout the ages there have been incredible people who have paid the price to bring to story of redemption to those who were on the outside.
The question for you and I today is: “Are we willing to take the risk and pay the price for the redemption and restoration of person who longs to be on the inside?”
New Hope 