Whenever I've heard sermons or read articles about the story of Ruth, the focus has always been on Ruth and Naomi. As I'm reading the book of Ruth this morning, I'm finding myself asking more questions about Boaz than about Ruth. Boaz is typically mentioned as a side note to the story of Ruth. He is referred to as the redeemer in Naomi's family. He is an example of how Christ redeems each of us. As I'm reading, there are several things that are standing out to me.
Boaz was a prominent man of noble character. (Ruth 2:1)
Boaz wasn't your everyday man of Bethlehem. He was a businessman. Not only did he own the fields in which Ruth found herself working, but he ran his business with integrity. He was known for having good character.
Boaz was a man of faith. (Ruth 2:4)
Upon seeing his workers in the field, Boaz greeted them by saying, "The Lord be with you." He didn't lead the conversation asking for updates on the days numbers. He greeted his workers with a blessing.
Boaz was observant. (Ruth 2:5)
Boaz noticed a new woman working in his fields. He asked who she was and wanted to know more of her story.
Boaz wasn't haughty or condescending. (Ruth 2:14)
Boaz could have seen Ruth as nothing more than a beggar. However, he saw her as a woman with value and a woman of character. He invited her to dine with him. Boaz did not discount her value based on her current situation in life. He saw her integrity and dedication to her mother-in-law. He had eyes to see her as she truly was and not just where she was.
Boaz was a protector. (Ruth 2:15 and 3:14)
Boaz ordered his young men to not humiliate Ruth. He was aware of the shame that could come with her place of begging and he ordered those working for him to be conscious of keeping her dignity. As a beggar in the field she could have been called names or made to feel ashamed of poverty. However, Boaz ensured she was able to maintain dignity even in her state of begging. Later when Ruth visited Boaz at night he was aware of how people might talk about them spending the night together. He states, "Don't let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor." He gave her grain to take home so it would appear she was there for nothing more than grain. Again, he was protecting her dignity.
Boaz got things done! (Ruth 3:18)
Naomi tells Ruth, "...he won't rest until he resolves this today." Boaz was a man of his word and he didn't waste time in handling what needed to be done. He didn't procrastinate in speaking to the first "redeemer" in the family line. I would imagine Boaz had a myriad of other things on his calendar that day. He was a landowner and employer of many. Yet, the matter of Ruth was put at the top of his list. He sat at the gate of the town waiting for the family redeemer to arrive (Ruth 4:1). He camped out to wait!
No wonder Boaz was still single!
Boaz mentioned to Ruth how she did not pursue younger men (Ruth 3:10). He owned land. He was prominent in the community. Boaz must have been an older man (relative to the culture of the time) and yet he was still single. How could a man such as Boaz have been alone? Why was he single? When I read his qualities, I believe he was single because he was waiting for a woman of equal character. He was waiting for Ruth. As much as I hear women talk of waiting for their Boaz, I believe there are men who are waiting for their Ruth.
Ladies, would YOU catch the attention of a man with the qualities such as Boaz? Would your character proceed you? Are you willing to take a lowly place to provide for yourself and your family? What if that lowly place would be the very thing to catch the attention of Boaz? Are you willing to be a Ruth? Men who are still single and waiting for a Ruth, are you a Boaz? Before asking God to provide your mate, ask Him to make you into the person He would have you to be for the mate you are requesting.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
What Is Your Lazarus?
One of the first things I read this morning after waking up was this:
"Restrictions and constrictions, suffocated by my decision tangled up and prepared to just die. I heard Him say come forth today, even though my hands and feet were tied. Come forth, but my head and my mouth are bound, come forth though I'm wrapped from head to toe. I realized, it don't matter your constrictions you can still make a decision to move forward.-Inspired by the Resurrection of Lazarus" by Cory Bradley
I read this statement several times while I let the depth of its meaning sink into my soul and spirit. We have heard the story of Lazarus so many times it is easy to overlook the raw power Jesus displayed here! Lazarus was DEAD. D-E-A-D. DEAD. There was zero breath in his lungs. His heart was no longer beating. His mind was no longer thinking. He had been prepared in the traditional manner for burial and was in the grave.
I recommend reading all of John 11 to recap the story. Read it as if it's the first time you have read the story and ask God what He wants to show you NEW in this scripture.
To give you a brief recap:
Jesus is told of Lazarus' illness, but Jesus does not immediately leave to be with Lazarus. It is two days before Jesus leaves to visit him. By the time Jesus arrives, Lazarus has been dead four days. To all those around him, this was a hopeless situation. I wonder how many of Jesus' followers became angry and bitter at His timing. In their eyes, the crisis was over and death was the end result. If only Jesus had been there sooner, He could have prevented the pain and sting of death.
Are there circumstances in your life where you are seeing death? Do you feel your hands and feet are tied and you are unable to move? Maybe the Holy Spirit has told you to speak, yet you feel as if your mouth is bound and the words are not available. Is there a relationship that has died and you feel it is beyond restoration? Perhaps it's a friendship or even a marriage. Are you angry at God because He has not shown up "in time"? Are you needing a Lazarus miracle?
I believe Jesus intentionally stayed put for two days so there could be no question of the miracle He was to perform. People were becoming accustomed to His healing of the living. However, the raising of the dead was not exactly common! There could be no question of His deity after Lazurus' resurrection. Jesus did not even have to touch Lazurus! There could be no accusations of "medical revival" because of something Jesus physically did. It was simply by the power of His voice!
"They removed the stone. Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and prayed, "Father, I'm grateful that you have listened to me. I know you always do listen, but on account of this crowd standing here I've spoken so that they might believe that you sent me." Then he shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" And he came out, a cadaver, wrapped from head to toe, and with a kerchief over his face. Jesus told them, "Unwrap him and let him loose." John 11:42-44
Whatever the cadaver is in your life, Jesus wants to speak to it! By HIS power, it can be unwrapped and loosened! I would be honored to pray with you today and this weekend for your miracle. I believe God wants to restore life to you and He has been waiting for just the right time so you would KNOW it's only by HIS power!
"Restrictions and constrictions, suffocated by my decision tangled up and prepared to just die. I heard Him say come forth today, even though my hands and feet were tied. Come forth, but my head and my mouth are bound, come forth though I'm wrapped from head to toe. I realized, it don't matter your constrictions you can still make a decision to move forward.-Inspired by the Resurrection of Lazarus" by Cory Bradley
I read this statement several times while I let the depth of its meaning sink into my soul and spirit. We have heard the story of Lazarus so many times it is easy to overlook the raw power Jesus displayed here! Lazarus was DEAD. D-E-A-D. DEAD. There was zero breath in his lungs. His heart was no longer beating. His mind was no longer thinking. He had been prepared in the traditional manner for burial and was in the grave.
I recommend reading all of John 11 to recap the story. Read it as if it's the first time you have read the story and ask God what He wants to show you NEW in this scripture.
To give you a brief recap:
Jesus is told of Lazarus' illness, but Jesus does not immediately leave to be with Lazarus. It is two days before Jesus leaves to visit him. By the time Jesus arrives, Lazarus has been dead four days. To all those around him, this was a hopeless situation. I wonder how many of Jesus' followers became angry and bitter at His timing. In their eyes, the crisis was over and death was the end result. If only Jesus had been there sooner, He could have prevented the pain and sting of death.
Are there circumstances in your life where you are seeing death? Do you feel your hands and feet are tied and you are unable to move? Maybe the Holy Spirit has told you to speak, yet you feel as if your mouth is bound and the words are not available. Is there a relationship that has died and you feel it is beyond restoration? Perhaps it's a friendship or even a marriage. Are you angry at God because He has not shown up "in time"? Are you needing a Lazarus miracle?
I believe Jesus intentionally stayed put for two days so there could be no question of the miracle He was to perform. People were becoming accustomed to His healing of the living. However, the raising of the dead was not exactly common! There could be no question of His deity after Lazurus' resurrection. Jesus did not even have to touch Lazurus! There could be no accusations of "medical revival" because of something Jesus physically did. It was simply by the power of His voice!
"They removed the stone. Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and prayed, "Father, I'm grateful that you have listened to me. I know you always do listen, but on account of this crowd standing here I've spoken so that they might believe that you sent me." Then he shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" And he came out, a cadaver, wrapped from head to toe, and with a kerchief over his face. Jesus told them, "Unwrap him and let him loose." John 11:42-44
Whatever the cadaver is in your life, Jesus wants to speak to it! By HIS power, it can be unwrapped and loosened! I would be honored to pray with you today and this weekend for your miracle. I believe God wants to restore life to you and He has been waiting for just the right time so you would KNOW it's only by HIS power!
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Listen to God First
There is a story found in 1 Kings 13 that I read last night, but I do
not recall hearing too many sermons ever preached on this passage. The
man at the heart of this story is not named, but referred to as "a man
of God from Judah." He had received a revelation from God regarding
Jeroboam and traveled to Bethel to prophesy regarding the future of the
altar that had been built there. The king did not like the word given by
the man and ordered him to be arrested. At this command the king's hand
withered. The prophecy spoken regarding the altar was fulfilled
immediately.
For obvious reasons the king had a change of heart towards the man and pleaded for him to pray to the Lord to restore his hand. The man prays on his behalf and the king's hand is restored. Out of gratitude, the king offers for the man to come to his house, relax, and be rewarded. The man declines stating the Lord has commanded him, "You must not eat bread or drink water or go back from the way you came." (vs. 9). The man then leaves by a different route from which he came. This is where the story becomes interesting to me.
Another old prophet is told of what occurred at Bethel and he sets out to find the man from Judah. He finds him and offers for him to come to his house to eat bread. The man repeats to the prophet the same command he told the king, that he was forbidden to eat bread or drink or to go back the way he came. The old prophet explains he is also a prophet and he received a word from the Lord to bring the man back with him. Prior to this statement, no where is it written that the prophet received this word. The end of verse 18 states "the old prophet deceived him."
The man went back with the old prophet. Perhaps it was out of respect for his elder and for the position of authority he had as an elder prophet. Read what happens as they are sitting at the old prophet's table:
"and he cried out to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, Thus says the Lord: Because you have disobeyed the word of the Lord, and have not kept the commandment which the Lord your God commanded you, but you came back, ate bread, and drank water in the place of which the Lord said to you, Eat no bread and drink no water, your corpse shall not come to the tomb of your fathers. So it was, after he had eaten bread and after he had drunk, that he saddled the donkey for him, the prophet whom he had brought back. When he was gone, a lion met him on the road and killed him. And his corpse was thrown on the road, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the corpse." 1 Kings 13:21-24
So, wait a minute....the very prophet who deceived him and caused him to disobey God is the same prophet who tells him of the punishment for his disobedience? Have you ever had this happen in your own life? Obviously it did not happen in a way as extreme as this because you are still alive to read what I'm writing! What I mean by this is have you heard God command you in what you are called to do, yet because of the voice of the authority in your life, you turned from your specific command? The man from Judah heard God, saw the supernatural signs that happened to the king, and was firm in his command when offered to eat with the king. However, when another man of God came along claiming to know God's plan better, the man listened. This led to his death.
Almost five years ago I head God speak to me clearly to leave my job. There were many, and some in spiritual authority over me, who did not agree or understand why I would quit my job. I had little logical explanation other than "God told me." As I reflect over the time since I listened to what God told ME (He will not give everyone this same directive), I know beyond a shadow of a doubt I heard Him correctly. There are so many things that have happened in that time to confirm what He told me. There are still other things He has shown me that have yet to happen, but I see things heading in the proper direction for those things to be fulfilled. Had I listened to the authority in my life that contradicted God's voice, His plan for me would have been lying dead on the side of the road much like the man in this story. Satan is described as a lion roaming about seeking whom he can devour. How many more signs and wonders were in the man from Judah's future? Because of his disobedience, he fell prey to the one who wanted to stop God's power in his life.
If you have heard the voice of God in your life, hold fast! I do not say this to disrespect the spiritual authority in your life, but to say we must always be obedient to God first. There can be authority with their own agenda and when our call does not align with theirs, it can cause our call to die. Each of you have a specific purpose. Seek God first in all things and He will reveal the call for YOU!
For obvious reasons the king had a change of heart towards the man and pleaded for him to pray to the Lord to restore his hand. The man prays on his behalf and the king's hand is restored. Out of gratitude, the king offers for the man to come to his house, relax, and be rewarded. The man declines stating the Lord has commanded him, "You must not eat bread or drink water or go back from the way you came." (vs. 9). The man then leaves by a different route from which he came. This is where the story becomes interesting to me.
Another old prophet is told of what occurred at Bethel and he sets out to find the man from Judah. He finds him and offers for him to come to his house to eat bread. The man repeats to the prophet the same command he told the king, that he was forbidden to eat bread or drink or to go back the way he came. The old prophet explains he is also a prophet and he received a word from the Lord to bring the man back with him. Prior to this statement, no where is it written that the prophet received this word. The end of verse 18 states "the old prophet deceived him."
The man went back with the old prophet. Perhaps it was out of respect for his elder and for the position of authority he had as an elder prophet. Read what happens as they are sitting at the old prophet's table:
"and he cried out to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, Thus says the Lord: Because you have disobeyed the word of the Lord, and have not kept the commandment which the Lord your God commanded you, but you came back, ate bread, and drank water in the place of which the Lord said to you, Eat no bread and drink no water, your corpse shall not come to the tomb of your fathers. So it was, after he had eaten bread and after he had drunk, that he saddled the donkey for him, the prophet whom he had brought back. When he was gone, a lion met him on the road and killed him. And his corpse was thrown on the road, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the corpse." 1 Kings 13:21-24
So, wait a minute....the very prophet who deceived him and caused him to disobey God is the same prophet who tells him of the punishment for his disobedience? Have you ever had this happen in your own life? Obviously it did not happen in a way as extreme as this because you are still alive to read what I'm writing! What I mean by this is have you heard God command you in what you are called to do, yet because of the voice of the authority in your life, you turned from your specific command? The man from Judah heard God, saw the supernatural signs that happened to the king, and was firm in his command when offered to eat with the king. However, when another man of God came along claiming to know God's plan better, the man listened. This led to his death.
Almost five years ago I head God speak to me clearly to leave my job. There were many, and some in spiritual authority over me, who did not agree or understand why I would quit my job. I had little logical explanation other than "God told me." As I reflect over the time since I listened to what God told ME (He will not give everyone this same directive), I know beyond a shadow of a doubt I heard Him correctly. There are so many things that have happened in that time to confirm what He told me. There are still other things He has shown me that have yet to happen, but I see things heading in the proper direction for those things to be fulfilled. Had I listened to the authority in my life that contradicted God's voice, His plan for me would have been lying dead on the side of the road much like the man in this story. Satan is described as a lion roaming about seeking whom he can devour. How many more signs and wonders were in the man from Judah's future? Because of his disobedience, he fell prey to the one who wanted to stop God's power in his life.
If you have heard the voice of God in your life, hold fast! I do not say this to disrespect the spiritual authority in your life, but to say we must always be obedient to God first. There can be authority with their own agenda and when our call does not align with theirs, it can cause our call to die. Each of you have a specific purpose. Seek God first in all things and He will reveal the call for YOU!
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Leave and Follow
Are you withholding a full commitment to God because you feel like you don't have your life "together" enough? Maybe you want to serve God but feel like you have too many past mistakes and sins for Him to use you. You may even attend a church that has "requirements" before you are allowed to serve within the church. If you are struggling with these types of thoughts, then I want you to consider these verses found in Matthew:
"And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 4:18-19
Did you notice in this verse what Jesus did not say? He did not ask Simon and Andrew for their credentials. He did not require them to detail their walk with God. He did not ask if they had previous experience in "fishing for men." Jesus simply said to follow Him and then He would qualify them.
What if Simon and Andrew had argued with Jesus? They could have said they only knew how to fish and it was all they were ever going to do in life. They could have begun a litany of every past sin they had committed. Yet, they didn't.
"They immediately left their nets and followed Him." Matthew 4:20
So what is stopping you from following Him? Are you still trying to stay in your safety boat? Are you clinging to what you have always know at the risk of losing what He is calling you to do in life? Do you trust Him enough to hear His voice and IMMEDIATELY drop your plans to follow Him?
Please let me know how I can be praying for you! If you are taking steps to follow Him "out of your boats," then please share your stories!
"And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 4:18-19
Did you notice in this verse what Jesus did not say? He did not ask Simon and Andrew for their credentials. He did not require them to detail their walk with God. He did not ask if they had previous experience in "fishing for men." Jesus simply said to follow Him and then He would qualify them.
What if Simon and Andrew had argued with Jesus? They could have said they only knew how to fish and it was all they were ever going to do in life. They could have begun a litany of every past sin they had committed. Yet, they didn't.
"They immediately left their nets and followed Him." Matthew 4:20
So what is stopping you from following Him? Are you still trying to stay in your safety boat? Are you clinging to what you have always know at the risk of losing what He is calling you to do in life? Do you trust Him enough to hear His voice and IMMEDIATELY drop your plans to follow Him?
Please let me know how I can be praying for you! If you are taking steps to follow Him "out of your boats," then please share your stories!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)