Boaz was a redeemer. He redeemed Ruth from a present with only poverty and a future with only destitution and loneliness. "Boaz took Ruth" (Ru 4:13), entered into a contract to personally pay the price of her "redemption" (Ru 4:7), and brought her into "a future full of hope" (Jer 29:11). Finally, Boaz didn't simply redeem Ruth and then walk away from her. In redeeming Ruth, Boaz raised her to an intimate relationship with himself (Ru 4:13) and gave her a royal heritage (Ru 4:22; Mt 1:5).
Jesus is our Redeemer. He "sacrificed Himself for us, to redeem us from all unrighteousness and to cleanse for Himself a people of His own" (Ti 2:14). Like Boaz, Jesus personally paid the price to redeem us (1 Cor 6:20) and offers us an eternal future and royal heritage with Him (see 2 Pt 1:4). In redeeming us, He didn't walk away from us, but instead has raised us to offer us such a level of intimacy with Him that we might live in Him and He in us (Jn 6:56; 17:23).
Boaz the redeemer asked Ruth to stay with him (Ru 2:8). Ruth could have turned him down and headed elsewhere. But she abandoned herself into his care. Jesus our Redeemer likewise asks us to stay with Him (see Mt 26:38), and let Him be our Head (Eph 1:22). Be like Ruth. Stay with your Redeemer. Abandon your life into the hands of Jesus.
| PRAYER: | Jesus, "my Redeemer" (Ps 19:15), "my lips shall shout for joy as I sing Your praises; my soul also, which You have redeemed" (Ps 71:23). |
| PROMISE: | "Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, but whoever humbles himself shall be exalted." –Mt 23:12 |
| PRAISE: | St. Louis, himself a king, served the King of kings by his impartiality in ministering to the poor as well as the rich. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College