Life and Hope
Opening Prayer
As you pray, take time to thank God for his work in your life. Ask him to continue that good work.
Read Ruth 4:13-22
[13] So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. [14] The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! [15] He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.” [16] Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. [17] The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. [18] This, then, is the family line of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, [19] Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, [20] Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, [21] Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed, [22] Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION
Reflect
Why was Naomi's grandson, Obed, so special?Boaz and Ruth are married and God granted her conception. God’s providence is clear: after all the struggle, bereavement, famine, poverty, shame, loneliness and loss, Ruth finally has a son. In a culture surrounded by the darkness of death and destruction–which has many resonances with us today–life is affirmed. Naomi, who became Mara, is now Naomi again. God transforms her experience from bitterness to joy. What a beautiful picture of grace! To underline the significance of this grace, Ruth, through her son, becomes an ancestor of King David and ultimately of Christ. This Gentile woman’s life demonstrates that inclusion in God’s people is by faith, that God rewards faithfulness in relationship to him and that we all need to be redeemed. Her story is prophetic: not only does she physically point to Christ, she also demonstrates in her life something of what Jesus will come to do. We, too, are challenged to think about how we can demonstrate Jesus as Redeemer. Do our lives point those around us to the bigger story of Jesus and his forgiveness?
Apply
Ask the Lord to empower you to live for him, showing through your life and words how great he is.
Closing prayer
Good Lord, Your redeeming love is so very great! I want others to see its wonderful impact through my life.
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