Daily Treasure

“And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into heaven?  this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:10-11).

I remember Trula Cronk’s word to us when she was speaking at the East Nashville Church. She said, “Jesus disappeared into the clouds that day, and one day He will undisappear.”

Yes, He is coming again. We don’t know the day or the hour. Don’t let anyone tell you that they do know. The word says: “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father” (Mark 13:32).
    

Then what are we to do? We must be ready for His coming at any time. He may come any day this week, any hour of the day or night. He may not come for years. Still live in expectation. It is our joy and our hope.
    

In that day we shall receive the culmination of our salvation. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). Imagine! We shall be like Him. I really can’t imagine all the wonderful things that may mean: Freed from sin forever; no fear of disease, pain or death; having a body, but not limited by time or space. Well, no need to try to name all the wonders. We know we will be with Him, and that will be sufficient.

The important thing now is to be ready for that time. Let’s be doing the things we want to be doing when He comes. Let’s live the way He wants us to live now. When we see Him coming, what will be the most important thing? Concentrate on those things. In the meantime, wait, watch, and pray with John, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

Dr. Mary R. Wisehart

Tennessee

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians 4:4-5).

God was aware of the bondage of sin mankind was under long before He sent His Son. As men and women plunged further into sin, He saw it was going to be necessary to send His beloved Son. Though He hated man’s sin, He loved the sinner and decided to make a way they could be redeemed from their sins. First of all, we see the love of Father and Son. Just as deep was the love He was going to show to mankind by His willingness to send His Son to earth. Though Jesus’ deity made Him far above the law, He had to be born under the law to prove his humanity.

This is another type of love because it is selfless. He walked our earth and could identify with our humanity, only He sinned not. He suffered long before the cross and died on one to pay the highest price for our redemption. There is no greater love than this. He has redeemed us. We belong to Him. Every prayer He answers and miracle He performs are like beautiful love notes signed by God.

As we continue on until Christ’s return, we must show our love to Him in whatever way we can. One day soon the love story on earth will end only to be continued in Heaven.  What a glorious time it will be when our loving God will finalize the adoption papers as He takes us by the hand and leads us into our eternal home! Praise God for His matchless and boundless love because without it we would have been eternally lost.         .

Sue Winchester

Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Today is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.

“So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son” (Ruth 4:13).

I picture a beautiful wedding taking place. Not long after, the happy couple decides to start a family. They have a son. According to levirate law, their son is going to be calling Naomi, “grandma.” No one could have been more proud. The grandson’s name was Obed. He was definitely going to fill the void left when Naomi lost her husband and two sons.

If you look at the family tree of Christ you will see the name Obed. The story of Ruth is another one of God’s redeeming grace. We will close our study tomorrow with words that describe a love that is more beautiful than that of Ruth and Boaz.

Sue Winchester

Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Have you fasted and prayed recently? Today would be a good day.

“And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses…” (Ruth 4:11a).

The “redemption” was completed! There were witnesses and now everything was official. Ruth and Boaz were free to marry! The long wait and legalities were over. Ruth and Boaz were going to become husband and wife according to God’s law and the custom of the day. Isn’t it amazing how God worked everything out according to His plan?

For our day and time, we think of Romans 8:28. No matter what we face in life, God stands ready to do amazing things for us if we will only trust Him.

Sue Winchester

Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for young people raising funds for summer mission trips; consider investing in God’s work in the world through giving to their accounts.

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even for the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14).

As I prepared the outline with titles and scriptures, as I usually do, I felt it fitting to insert today’s devotion. Boaz was like a foreshadowing of Christ. Boaz was considered, under Jewish law to be a “goel” and this was what Ruth needed for our story to have a happy ending. We needed more than a “goel” or “kinsman.” We needed a “kinsman-redeemer.” Thanks to Him we will live happily ever after.

J. Vernon McGee has written an excellent commentary about Ruth and also Esther. I would like to share what he says about a person being a “kinsman-redeemer.” There were five qualifications that needed to be met. As I list these, you will be able to see a portrait of Christ.

1.      The redeemer must be a near kinsmen.

2.      The redeemer must perform in willingness his work of redemption.

3.      The redeemer must possess the ability to redeem.

                  4.   The redeemer must be free himself.

5.   The redeemer must have the price of redemption.

“In His humanity, Christ fulfilled the first two. In His deity He fulfilled the next two. And by becoming God-Man, He met the final requirement.” Our redeemer was willing to pay the price for our souls to redeem us from the bondage of sin.

In the story of Ruth, Boaz would meet the requirements so everything would be legal. Christ met all qualifications but with a much deeper love than that of Ruth and Boaz. He paid the highest price for our redemption as He gave His life’s blood on a cruel cross. O What A Savior!

Sue Winchester

Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Children and grandchildren are a blessing from the Lord. Pray for them by name today.

“Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it” (Ruth 4:5-6).

Boaz allowed his head to rule instead of his heart when he uttered the words found in Ruth 4:5. It took some quick thinking but he was able to present his case in such a way, the nearer kinsman relinquished his rights. The customary transfer of sandals took place and Boaz became the “redeemer.” He not only got the land but he could now marry Ruth! We will pick up our story again on Wednesday.

Sue Winchester

Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray and invite young women to embrace the cause as Women Active for Christ.

“Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho such a one! Turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down. And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down” (Ruth 4:1-2).

What was going on at the gate was similar to us going to city hall or court. Boaz was prepared to handle everything according to the laws of the land. Actually, he could have made a good lawyer. He understood the risk he would be taking if the nearer kinsman decided to “redeem” the land which had belonged to Elimelech. Boaz had such a strong love for Ruth; it was a risk he felt was worth taking.

As Boaz presented his case before the elders, I think his heart skipped a beat when the nearer kinsman said, “I’ll buy the land.”  Monday we will see a turn of events in this courtroom drama.

Sue Winchester

Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray about changing some lifestyle habits to keep you spiritually fit during these though economic times.