2 Timothy 1:3 I give gratitude to God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day. 2 Timothy 1:4, I long to see you, as I remember your tears, so that I may be filled with joy. 2 Timothy 1:5 I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and now, I am persuaded, is in you also. 2 Timothy 1:6 That is why I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands 2 Timothy 1:7 because God has not given us a breath of fear, but one of power, care, and sound judgment.
relationships that matter
Paul had formed a relationship with Timothy and that young man mattered to him. But before Paul entered his life, two women had discipled him: his mother and grandmother. Those three people had molded Timothy into God’s man for God’s mission. Our relationships matter.
Lord, give us godly relationships, and help us to form them with others.
2 Timothy 1:1 Paul, a missionary of Christ Jesus by God’s preference, for the sake of the promise of life in Christ Jesus: 2 Timothy 1:2 To Timothy, my dearly cared for child. Favor, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
for the sake of the promise
Why become a missionary? Paul became a missionary “for the sake of the promise of life in Christ Jesus.” All the hardships he faced, all the difficulties he endured — they were all worth it because he was going to inherit a permanent life. He had sold out to Christ, but not for nothing. A promise of permanent life makes the investment worth it.
Lord, thank you for the promise that makes our investment worth it.
Ruth 4:18 Now these are the genealogical records of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, Ruth 4:19 Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, Ruth 4:20 Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, Ruth 4:21 Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, Ruth 4:22 Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.
greater Son, greater blessing
This genealogical record shows that Boaz descended from Judah’s family line. It traces the generations from Judah’s son Perez to his greater son, David.
We now know of an even greater Son, who came from the same family line. Jesus — like his human ancestor Obed — was born in Bethlehem. His birth — like Obed’s as well — was recognized as a great blessing from God. Also, when Obed was born, people praised God, but would have done so even more had they known who he really was.
Jesus’ birth is celebrated around the world every year. But even many of those who celebrate fail to see what his birth made possible. His birth was a blessing to us, but his mission was an even greater blessing.
Lord, thank you for the birth of your greater Son, and the blessing of permanent life he brings.
Ruth 4:13 Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. He had sex with her, and the Lord granted conception to her, and she gave birth to a son. Ruth 4:14 The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be Yahveh, who has not left you without a family deliverer today. May his name become well known in Israel. Ruth 4:15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. Indeed, your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” Ruth 4:16 Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became his nurse. Ruth 4:17 The neighbor women said, “A son has been born to Naomi,” and they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
baby Obed
After years of suffering and uncertainty, Naomi and those around her finally God’s the blessing on her life. Boaz was part of the blessing. So was Ruth. So was baby Obed. She had to wait a long time for that grandchild.
Baby Obed would grow up to become the grandfather of king David. God’s blessing to Naomi would become a blessing to her entire nation.
No matter how long we have to wait, the blessing of God are worth waiting for.
Lord, give us courage to trust you, even if the blessings do not arrive early.
Ruth 4:7 At an earlier periods in Israel, a man removed his sandal and gave it to the other party in order to make any matter legally binding concerning the right of deliverance or the exchange of property. This was the method of legally binding a transaction in Israel. Ruth 4:8 So the deliverer removed his sandal and said to Boaz, “Buy back the property yourself.” Ruth 4:9 Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I am buying from Naomi everything that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon. Ruth 4:10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to perpetuate the deceased man’s name on his property, so that his name will not disappear among his relatives or from the gate of his hometown. You are witnesses today.” Ruth 4:11 All the people who were at the city gate, including the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May Yahveh make the woman who is entering your house like Rachel and Leah, who together built the house of Israel. May you be powerful in Ephrathah and your name well known in Bethlehem. Ruth 4:12 May your house become like the house of Perez, the son Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring Yahveh will give you by this young woman.”
the elders’ blessing
Boaz called on the town elders to witness the legal transaction that would deliver Naomi’s property — and allow him to marry Ruth. The elders also blessed Ruth and prayed for a fruitful marriage. They prayed for Boaz that he would become famous. Check, check and check.
Lord, give us the wisdom to seek the blessing of those who lead our community.
Ruth 4:1 Boaz went up to the gate of the town and sat down there. Soon the family deliverer Boaz had spoken about came by. Boaz said, “Come over here and sit down.” So he went over and sat down. Ruth 4:2 Then Boaz took ten men of the town’s elders and said, “Sit here.” And they sat down. Ruth 4:3 He said to the deliverer, “Naomi, who has returned from the territory of Moab, is selling the portion of the field that belonged to our brother Elimelech. Ruth 4:4 I thought I should inform you: Buy it back in the presence of those seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you want to deliver it, do it. But if you do not want to deliver it, tell me so that I will know, because there isn’t anyone other than you to deliver it, and I am next after you.” “I want to deliver it,” he answered. Ruth 4:5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from Naomi, you will acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the deceased man, to perpetuate the man’s name on his property.” Ruth 4:6 The deliverer replied, “I can’t deliver it myself, or I will ruin my own inheritance. Take my right of deliverance, because I can’t deliver it.”
he overcomes obstacles
I imagine a lump in Boaz’s throat developed when he heard his relative say “I want to deliver it.” But he had the presence of mind to tell his relative that he would acquire Ruth in the deal.
We don’t know the exact reasons that this relative rejected the investment. We do know that God had a reason. Boaz was glad to learn that Ruth was going to be his. The Lord made a way.
Thank you Lord, for overcoming obstacles in order to bless us.
Ruth 3:14 So she lay down at his feet until morning but got up while it was still dark. Then Boaz said, “Don’t let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor.” Ruth 3:15 And he told Ruth, “Bring the shawl you’re wearing and hold it out.” When she held it out, he shoveled six measures of barley into her shawl, and she went into the town. Ruth 3:16 She went to her mother-in-law, Naomi, who asked her, “What happened, my daughter?” Then Ruth told her everything the man had done for her. Ruth 3:17 She said, “He gave me these six measures of barley, because he said, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.'” Ruth 3:18 Naomi said, “My daughter, wait until you find out how things go, because he won’t rest unless he resolves this today.”
six measures of barley
Those six measures of barley were a sign to Naomi, and she could read the sign. She knew that Boaz was determined to discover the solution to Ruth’s problem — and his. She knew he would not rest until he has gotten an answer.
Perhaps you have a question today, and you are anxious to determine the answer. You may not get your answer today, but you may get a sign from the Lord that an answer is coming. Be on the look out.
Ruth 3:6 She went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had charged her to do. Ruth 3:7 After Boaz ate, drank, and was in good spirits, he went to lie down at the end of the pile of barley, and she came secretly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. Ruth 3:8 At midnight, Boaz was startled, turned over, and there lying at his feet was a woman! Ruth 3:9 So he asked, “Who are you?” “I am Ruth, your servant,” she replied. “Spread out your wing, because you are a family deliverer.” Ruth 3:10 Then he said, “May Yahveh bless you, my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before, because you have not pursued younger men, whether rich or poor. Ruth 3:11 Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you say, since all the people in my town know that you are a woman of noble character. Ruth 3:12 Yes, it is true that I am a family deliverer, but there is a deliverer closer than I am. Ruth 3:13 Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to deliver you, that’s good. Let him deliver you. But if he doesn’t want to deliver you, as Yahveh lives, I will. Now lie down until morning.”
don’t jump the gun
Boaz wanted to do what was proper, so he had to be patient, even though he had already noticed Ruth, and shown kindness to her. He knew that the other relative had to reject Ruth first. He would not jump the gun.
Sometimes we will want to do something, and be able to do it, but there will be some obstacle in the way. It could be a test to see if we will jump the gun.
LORD, make us people determined to do the right thing at the right time.
Ruth 3:1 Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, shouldn’t I find a resting place for you so that you will be taken care of?
Ruth 3:2 Now isn’t Boaz our relative? Haven’t you been working with his female servants? This evening he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor.
Ruth 3:3 Wash – put on perfumed oil, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.
Ruth 3:4 When he lies down, notice the place where he’s lying, go in and uncover his feet, and lie down. Then he will explain to you what you should do.”
Ruth 3:5 So Ruth said to her, “I will do everything you say.”
teaming up
Ruth was helping Naomi by gleaning in the fields. Now, Naomi — because of her awareness of social customs in Bethlehem — had the opportunity to help Ruth.
We should always be looking for ways to help each other. We should never assume that because a person is dependent on others, they cannot contribute something.
LORD, give us the wisdom to team up, sharing our abilities and wisdom.
Ruth 2:17 So Ruth gathered grain in the field until evening. She beat out what she had gathered, and it was about twenty-six quarts of barley.
Ruth 2:18 She picked up the grain and went into the town, where her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She brought out what she had left over from her meal and gave it to her.
Ruth 2:19 Her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you gather barley today, and where did you work? May he be blessed who noticed you.” Ruth told her mother-in-law whom she had worked with and said, “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz.”
Ruth 2:20 Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May Yahveh bless him because he has not abandoned his kindness to the living or the dead.” Naomi continued, “The man is a close relative. He is one of our family deliverers.”1
Ruth 2:21 Ruth the Moabitess said, “He also told me, ‘Stay with my young men until they have finished all of my harvest.'”
Ruth 2:22 So Naomi said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, “My daughter, it is good for you to work with his female servants, so that nothing will happen to you in another field.”
Ruth 2:23 Ruth stayed close to Boaz’s female servants and gathered grain until the barley and the wheat harvests were finished. And she lived with her mother-in-law.
staying at the work
If you are looking for love at first sight, and then happily ever after, this passage might present a let-down. Ruth kept up her commitment to Naomi, and Boaz his commitment to Ruth. They kept at it until the barley and wheat harvests were finished.
Our Lord has called us to keep working until the harvests are over as well. He warns us against getting lazy and self indulgent while there is work to be done.
Matthew 24:45 “Who then is the authentic and intelligent servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Matthew 24:46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Matthew 24:47 Honestly, I am telling you, he will appoint him over all his possessions. Matthew 24:48 But if that sinful servant says to himself, ‘My master is overdue,’ Matthew 24:49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, Matthew 24:50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not discovering Matthew 24:51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
LORD, make us people who stay at the work until the harvest is done.
Devotions 