Today’s Reading: Luke 1:67-80

What came of Zechariah’s period of silence? Now that he knew what it was like to be unable to communicate, how did his new appreciation for words impact what he chose to say?

Zechariah had more than nine months to consider what God was telling him through the angel Gabriel. A new wisdom and understanding was birthed from this time of quiet. Just as his son was born filled with the Holy Spirit, Zechariah was also filled with the Holy Spirit and began to prophesy. His time of silence was a great time for him to empty himself of all that was Zechariah so that he could be filled with all that was God. The result — these powerful words:

“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people.
He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago.
Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us.
He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant – the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham.
We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live.
And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord.
You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.
Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.” – Luke 1:68-79

I love the picture of Zechariah smiling down at his newborn son and speaking those tender words of purpose. There have been many moments in my life when someone took the time to speak words of encouragement over me. I can look back at some pretty pivotal moments when someone I highly respected spoke purpose into my life and the impact was powerful.

Perhaps the Lord will give us a moment like that today — a moment when we can speak into the life of a student, friend or coworker. Perhaps you have a family member who needs you to break the silence today.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out!
Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies. – Psalm 107:1-2

Let’s be intentional with our day — intentional to be heard by someone else, but also to hear from God. Today could get pretty hectic, busy, chaotic and loud for us. Let’s refuse to make so much noise that we cannot hear God’s still small voice speaking of His purpose for our day. Let’s bow quietly before Him and pray for a new wisdom and understanding, a new and fresh in-filling of the Spirit. Then, when we hear from Him, let’s choose to remain quiet and ponder His words, allowing Him to guide us down the path of peace.

Today’s Reading: Psalm 83 & 109

I pray to you, O Lord, my rock. Do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you are silent, I might as well give up and die. – Psalm 28:1

Sometimes God asks us to be silent before Him; He prompts us to spend more time listening and less time talking. Father God asks us to silence the noise so that we can hear His still small voice. I am reminded of Abraham’s servant who was given the task of finding a wife for Isaac. He responded in obedience to the task he was given, prayed for success in accomplishing that task and then waited in silence.

The servant watched her in silence, wondering whether or not the Lord had given him success in his mission. – Genesis 24:21

The art of being still is a beautiful motion of obedience and trust. We do what we know to do and then watch for evidence of God at work in our lives. But what happens when we seek clarity and get none; what happens when we look for evidence of God’s presence and come up empty-handed?

At times we can go through a season when it feels like God is silent. We long to hear from Him, we call upon His name, but hear no response. Our heart cries out:

O God, do not be silent!
Do not be deaf.
Do not be quiet, O God. – Psalm 83:1

The psalmist goes on to describe to God what the enemy is doing to the nation of Israel. He seems to question God’s attention to the situation so he details what is happening all around him, as if God does not know or has not taken notice. Then he takes the rest of the song to suggest, or rather demand, what God should do to make right all that is going wrong.

Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord—
that you alone are the Most High over all the earth. – Psalm 83:16

In this last verse, the psalmist seems to be submitting to the authority of God. He refers to the name of the Lord, showing the desire to be obedient to the Master — the One who is in charge. He recognizes that God alone is the Most High. And although his prayer is to “let them know”, it seems from the first verse that he is also asking for God to let him know. He wants the reassurance that God is taking care of His people.

Lord, let me know that you are aware. Show me that you are in control of the situation. I desire to feel your presence and rest in your faithfulness. Help me to let go so that I will stop trying to control my circumstances. I long to rest in your care, but my heart needs to be reassured of your love.

It is easy to feel alone at times. In fact, the enemy would love for us to believe that we are alone — that God has abandoned us. We begin to question His love and wonder if He even cares about what we are going through. During these times, we have to remind ourselves of what we know to be true — that we are never alone and that His love is unfailing.

God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” – Hebrews 13:5b

In the midst of deep sorrow / I see Your light is breaking through / The dark of night will not overtake me / I am pressing into You / Lord, You fight my every battle / Oh, and I will not fear / I am not alone / I am not alone / You will go before me / You will never leave me [I Am Not Alone, Kari Jobe]

My God, whom I praise,
do not remain silent…
Help me, Lord my God;
save me according to your unfailing love.
Let them know that it is your hand,
that you, Lord, have done it. – Psalm 109:1,26-27a

Today’s Reading: Luke 1:1-25, 57-66

HAVE YOU EVER ARGUED WITH GOD?

Have you ever asked God for something but, when He gave it to you, you chose to ask more questions instead of going first to praise and thanksgiving? Have you ever heard God’s promise but lacked the faith to believe that He was really speaking to you or that He was really saying what you had been waiting to hear?

This is the story of the Jewish priest, Zechariah. He and his wife, Elizabeth, were righteous in God’s eyes as they served Him obediently. They were both very old and had never been able to conceive.

One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. – Luke 1:8-9

There were 24 orders of priests (1 Chronicles 24) and then a large number of priests in each order. On this day, his order was on duty and they cast lots to see who would have the honor of entering the sanctuary of the Lord and burning incense. It was possible that a priest may never be chosen or that this would be a once in a lifetime opportunity for a priest. Today, the lot fell to Zechariah.

While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”

Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.” – Luke 1:11-20

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN SILENCED BY GOD?

Because of their age, Zechariah struggled to believe this amazing message delivered by Gabriel. Instead of praising God, he argued and asked more questions, so God silenced him. Zechariah lacked the faith to believe the angel was really saying what he had been longing to hear for so many years.

When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home. Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.” – Luke 1:23-25

When it was time, Elizabeth gave birth to a son and declared his name would be John. When those around her argued that she needed to choose a family name, Zechariah wrote the words, “His name is John.” Instantly his voice came back and Zechariah began praising God! (Luke 1:57-64)

I wonder if God considers silencing us. At times he asks us to be silent in order to spend more time listening for His voice; He asks us to silence the noise so that we can hear His gentle whisper. Perhaps God desires for us to receive His words without comment, sarcasm, questions, cynicism or doubt.

Lord, we wait before you today in silence. Our desire is to hear from you so we ask that you help us block out the distractions in order to hear your voice; help us to silence the chaos of 2020 and focus on you. Father God, we ask for an increase in faith so that we can believe your promises to be true and trust that your plan is always the perfect plan. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Psalm 57 & 115

JESUS, THE WORD, GIVES LOVE.

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing LOVE and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. – John 1:14

When He entered the world of darkness, he gave us blessing after blessing from the abundance of His love. Before this time, God’s people had experienced the love of their Creator who had faithfully cared for them, but it was through the gift of His Son that God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came down so close they could see it!

From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us. – John 1:16-18

What a gift we were given when the Word took on flesh! As we study the life of Jesus, we come to a better understanding of who God is. The sacrifice of Jesus gives us perspective of just how much God loves us. His love for us is revealed in the gift of His Son.

No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:39

JESUS, THE WORD, REVEALS LOVE.

Life, light and love — we will experience all three of these today but it is our choice whether or not we acknowledge the presence of these gifts in our life. Today I can choose to recognize God’s blessings in my life that overflow from the abundance of His unfailing love and faithfulness, or I can focus on the loud cries of the darkness that try hard to extinguish these gifts of life, light and love.

Jesus came into the world he created and they rejected him, but all who believed him and accepted him were given the right to become children of God (v.10-12). I am a child of God! I have been given life, which brought light into the darkness I was living in, and today I will see God in every blessing He has abundantly allowed to overflow into my life out of His great love!

Thank you, God, for the impact you have made and continue to make on my life. Your praise, Oh God, will ever be on my lips!

My heart is confident in you, O God;
my heart is confident.
No wonder I can sing your praises!
Wake up, my heart!
Wake up, O lyre and harp!
I will wake the dawn with my song.
I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
I will sing your praises among the nations.
For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
May your glory shine over all the earth. – Psalm 57:7-11

Today’s Reading: John 1:14-18

LIFE, LIGHT and LOVE – three powerful words that describe our Lord and Savior. We are able to experience these three gifts because of the presence of Christ in our life, the presence of the Word.

In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.
The Word gave LIFE to everything that was created, and his life brought LIGHT to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. – John 1:1-5

JESUS, THE WORD, GIVES US LIGHT.

Just as God spoke light into existence at creation, Jesus brought light when he came into the very world he created. Jesus – the true light – came into a world that had been darkened by sin in order to cast his light into the world he created.

The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. – John 1:9

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. – John 1:14

Through Jesus Christ we experience the unfailing love and faithfulness of God. We come to know the God who created us through the Son who died for us, and then have the blessing of His Spirit that lives in us.

No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us. – John 1:18

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” – John 8:12

JESUS, THE WORD, IS LIGHT.

I am so thankful that the light of Jesus led me to an understanding of God’s plan for my life. His light shines in the darkness so that we can see beyond the sinful options of this world and see the difference He can make in our lives. The same God who created light in the beginning, when all was dark, is the God who sent the Word to become the light of the world. His light shines brightly in the lives of those around us, giving us hope for our own salvation.

For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. – 2 Corinthians 4:6

JESUS, THE WORD, SHINES IN THE DARKNESS.

Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.” After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them. – John 12:35-36

In what ways can we choose to walk in the light today? There is so much darkness around us — darkness on the daily news, darkness in politics, darkness in social media, darkness in the hearts of our friends and neighbors. With this darkness comes loneliness, grief, hopelessness, and pain. The One who created light has a plan to be the light in our lives for those who are hurting. This changes the way we see our day. Is this just another day, or is this the opportunity to let His holiness shine in our lives, bringing hope to everyone we come in contact with.

Lord, we give you our day and ask that your light will shine brightly for us to see your plan. Give us clarity when we have decisions to make and give us eyes to see the pain of those around us. Help us to show joy and cast hope into the lives of others. May the words of our mouths and the brightness of our hearts help someone else see YOU today. Jesus, we choose to walk in your light and shine for others, just as you are shining for us. Amen.

Today’s Reading: John 1:1-13

Jesus was a descendant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He came from the family lineage of Solomon, son of King David. Matthew made known where Jesus came from but John made known that Jesus existed long before Abraham. Let’s consider the significance of who Jesus is and the impact His life has on ours today.

Jesus.
My Savior, my Redeemer, my LIFE.
Jesus.
My Counselor, my Comforter, my LIGHT.
Jesus.
My King, my Best Friend, my LOVE.
Jesus.

LIFE, LIGHT and LOVE – three powerful words that describe the difference Jesus Christ makes in our life. These three gifts from God are made possible by the presence of Christ in our life, the presence of the Word.

In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.
The Word gave LIFE to everything that was created, and his life brought LIGHT to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. – John 1:1-5

JESUS, THE WORD, GIVES US LIFE.

He was there in the beginning when life was created. In fact, all life was created through Him because he is the One who gave life to everything that was created. We would not be here, we would not experience physical life, if it were not for Jesus – the Word. But we would also not experience a rebirth or a second gift of life if it were not for him.

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn – not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. – John 1:10-13

We experience new life in God when we accept what Jesus did for us on the cross. When we see the part we played in his death and believe that he rose from the dead, we accept that Jesus is the pathway to life. We experience a new life because of the One who gave life to everything.

JESUS, THE WORD, IS THE WAY TO LIFE.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6

Jesus, we recognize you this morning as the Giver of Life. We thank you for each day you give us to experience life with our family and friends, and we praise you for the opportunity to experience new life through our relationship with you. You are the way to life, you are the truth that guides our life, and you are the source of life itself. We give you all the praise this morning as we recognize your gift of life and commit to keeping our eyes focused on you.

Today’s Reading: Luke 1:26-56

There are five women in the genealogy of Jesus – five women with stained reputations but also five women whom God chose to bless by placing them in this royal lineage. What would Jesus have said regarding his precious mother, Mary, the fifth woman in this genealogy recorded by Matthew? Let’s look at her story – a story of a young woman who was the object of gossip, speculation, condemnation and, best of all, the love of Jesus.

Mary – a simple young woman seen by God to be worthy of the task of raising God’s Son.
Mary – a virgin waiting for her upcoming marriage to the carpenter Joseph.
Mary – found to be with child before her wedding day.

Who would believe her when she said an angel appeared to her?
Who would be convinced she was still a virgin?
Who would be the first to call out for her stoning?

Luke tells the story of how Mary came to be in the lineage of Jesus. An angel appeared to Mary saying, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end! – Luke 1:28-31

Mary could have panicked; she could have argued, “Why me?!!” She could have worried about her reputation or feared how her community might react. But Mary, precious Mary, responded in submission to God’s holy plan with a humility that is still highly respected today.

Mary humbly sang a song of praise, “…Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed…” (1:47-48).

Mary humbly traveled to Bethlehem in Judea, while far along in her pregnancy, only to arrive in labor with no place but a simple manger to give birth to the Christ child (2:4-7).

Mary humbly listened to the shepherds’ story of what the angels had said to them and kept all these things in her heart, thinking about them often (2:16-19).

Mary humbly presented her baby to the Lord in Jerusalem and was amazed by what Simeon had to say about the baby she held in her arms. Can you imagine what she was thinking when she heard his words: “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul” (2:34-35).

Mary humbly responded when the prophet Anna began praising God and telling everyone that this child was the one God would use to rescue Jerusalem (2:36-38).

At what point do you think Mary began to feel a little overwhelmed? She was human and would have felt the same things we would feel if we thought we had lost our twelve year old in Jerusalem during the crowded Passover festival (2:48). She was his mother, no wonder she pushed him toward greatness at the wedding in Cana (John 2:3-5). She was his mother, no wonder she interrupted his ministry with the desire to talk with him and spend time with him (Matthew 12:46). He was her son, no wonder she wept as he hung on the cross dying (Matthew 27:56).

What would Jesus have to say about this fifth woman listed in his genealogy? She was his mother and he loved her.

Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother,” and from then on this disciple took her into his home. – John 19:25-27

Jesus said very little while on the cross, but he took the time to respond to his mother’s breaking heart. His love for her must have been so great! Wouldn’t it be great to be loved by Jesus in that way? But wait, we are! Remember this conversation:

Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!” – Matthew 12:48-50

This fifth woman in the genealogy of Jesus was no doubt loved and cared for by her son, but that same love and care was poured out for us when Jesus gave His life on the cross so that we might spend eternity with Him. Let’s consider how much Jesus loves us as we finish our morning coffee…

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 11-12, Luke 7:37-50, Psalm 90

There are five women in the genealogy of Jesus – five women with stained reputations but also five women whom God chose to bless by placing them in this royal lineage. As Jesus was growing up, I am sure his parents taught him the stories of his ancestors.

What would Jesus have said regarding Bathsheba, the fourth woman in his paternal genealogy? Let’s look at her story – a story that includes foolishness, adultery, intense grief and finally redemption – a second chance.

David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah). – Matthew 1:6b

The fact that Bathsheba is described in the genealogy of Jesus as the widow of Uriah is a reminder of the sin that brought her into this family tree. Bathsheba made a foolish decision that led to a weak moment which led to a tragic death of an innocent man, her husband.

Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home. Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent David a message, saying, “I’m pregnant.” – 2 Samuel 11:2-5

David’s first mistake is that he was not where he should have been. He should have been on the battlefield with the Israelite army but chose to send them out alone. Bathsheba’s first mistake was similar. She was not where she should have been. Even if the weather was warm and a bath on the roof was permissible, she should have set up a covering to prevent anyone from being able to see her. Bathsheba would have been fully aware that she could be seen from the roof of the palace.

“Stay ever so close to me, and you will not deviate from the path I have prepared for you.” This is great advice from Sarah Young’s book Jesus Calling, and would have been good advice for David and Bathsheba. If they had stayed close to God, they would have been where they were supposed to be and would not have given into sexual immorality. Their union led to shame and an unintended pregnancy, which led to a murder in order to cover up the transgression, which led to their grief when their son died seven days after birth.

David confessed his sin to the Lord and, although there were still some harsh consequences, God forgave David his sin (12:11-14). God blessed David and Bathsheba with another son and David named him Solomon.

This is the story of how Bathsheba came to be in the lineage of Jesus. What would the young man, Jesus, have to say of this woman in his family story – the one with the “scarlet letter”?

When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”…

Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”

Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.”

“That’s right,” Jesus said. Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.

“I tell you, her sins — and they are many — have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven…Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” – Luke 7:37-50

If you can relate to Bathsheba’s foolish decisions and sinful behavior, if you understand the grief and regret she suffered, then perhaps these words are what you need to hear from the Prince of Peace himself, “Your sins are forgiven…Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” If you relate more to the Pharisees who stood in condemnation of the sinful woman who was kneeling at Jesus’ feet, if you have focused on the sins of another person or refused to forgive them, then perhaps these words are also for you – “Your sins are forgiven…Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Today’s Reading: Ruth 2-3, Romans 3

There are five women in the genealogy of Jesus – five women with stained reputations but also five women whom God chose to bless by placing them in this royal lineage. As Jesus was growing up, I am sure his parents taught him the stories of his ancestors.

What would Jesus have said regarding Ruth, the third of the women in his paternal genealogy? Let’s look at her story – a story that includes the loss of a husband and leaving everything she knows to go to a strange land, only to be treated as an outsider or foreigner. Ruth’s stained reputation had nothing to do with her actions and everything to do with the color of her skin and her ethnic heritage.

Just like Rahab, Ruth was a foreigner who took refuge under the wings of the God of Israel (Ruth 2:12). When given the opportunity to return to her family and their false gods, Ruth said to her mother-in-law, Naomi, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” – Ruth 1:16-17

Naomi returned to soil that had been inactive in her husband’s absence. With no one there to plant the seed, there would be no harvest. Naomi sent Ruth out to gather what was left after the workers had harvested their fields. But God’s plan for Ruth was not for her to survive on leftovers, but that she would thrive in abundance. She had been faithfully devoted to both Naomi and to the Lord, and He was about to do something for her that was beyond her understanding.

In those days, the nearest relative to the patriarch in the family was referred to as the “Family Redeemer.” Boaz was a wealthy and influential man; a close relative to Naomi’s deceased husband, Elimelech. However, Boaz was not the closest relative, so he went on Ruth’s behalf and arranged to buy the land and take Ruth as his wife.

Like Tamar, Ruth was a widow who was left without children to carry on the family name. But God had a plan of redemption for Ruth, just as He had for Tamar. Not only would Ruth’s family be famous in Bethlehem, Bethlehem would become famous because of Ruth’s family.

The women in the town saw this union of Boaz and Ruth as Naomi’s redemption. She had lost her husband and both of her sons and was left alone with only her daughter-in-law to support her. Knowing that the Christ child was to be born in this family lineage, consider the powerful words of these unsuspecting women as they speak a blessing on Naomi and her descendants.

“Praise the Lord, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel. May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!” Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast. And she cared for him as if he were her own. The neighbor women said, “Now at last Naomi has a son again!” And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David. – Ruth 4:14-17

So Ruth was the great-grandmother to David, the first King of Israel and the one whose lineage would produce the Messiah. From the union of Boaz and Ruth, the ultimate Family Redeemer would be born. Because of our own sinful choices, we were slaves to our sin, but Jesus paid the debt and rescued us from slavery with the shedding of his scarlet blood.

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:28

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. – Romans 3:23-25a

He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. – Ephesians 1:7

This is the story of how Ruth came to be in the lineage of Jesus. Though others saw her as less because of where she came from, God saw her as more because He knew where she was going. God’s plan of redemption was not only for Tamar, Rahab and Ruth; God’s plan of redemption is for us. No matter who we are or what we have done, Jesus is our Family Redeemer. Though we are poor and have nothing of earthly value to offer, He has paid our debt and delivered us from slavery to sin.

Let us worship our Family Redeemer – the One who was born and then died to offer us eternal life. Let us humbly bow down and offer to Him all that we are, along with all of our past regrets, so that we can walk into His future and thankfully accept His gift of salvation.

Today’s Reading: Joshua 2, John 8:1-11

There are five women in the genealogy of Jesus – five women with stained reputations but also five women whom God chose to bless by placing them in this royal lineage. As Jesus was growing up, I am sure his parents taught him the stories of his ancestors. He would have known Rahab’s story – a story that includes prostitution, deceit, dishonesty and finally REDEMPTION and a new life.

Tamar had disguised herself and acted as a prostitute one time in an act of deceit, but Rahab made a living from prostitution. Rahab opened her home to strangers as an inn or hotel in the walled city of Jericho. It was common for women who owned this kind of business to also offer more than just a place to sleep for the night, but to also offer their body to the strangers passing through town.

But this night was different. Her guests served the God she had heard so much about, the God who drew her to Himself in a way that perhaps made her feel loved and worthy for the first time. So when she received orders from the king of Jericho to bring out the spies, Rahab lied and said the spies were no longer there. To protect these godly men, she hid them beneath bundles of flax she had laid out on the roof and lied about their whereabouts. She lowered them to the ground out her window using a scarlet rope in order to help them escape safely.

Rahab’s desire was to live. But beyond the idea of escaping death, Rahab desired to REALLY live – to experience the kind of life the God of Israel could give her. She had heard the stories and her heart longed to be a part of what God was doing. This foreign prostitute had developed a faith in God in the midst of a pagan world.

So Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute and her relatives who were with her in the house, because she had hidden the spies Joshua sent to Jericho. And she lives among the Israelites to this day. – Joshua 6:25

This is the story of how Rahab came to be in the lineage of Jesus. In this story, Rahab risked her life in order to spare the life of two men of God. She walked away from everything she had ever known – the sin, the shame, the regret, the scarlet rope – and began worshipping the God who had always loved her.

A man named Salmon (a descendant of Tamar’s son Perez) looked beyond Rahab’s past and gave her a future as his wife. Perhaps Salmon remembered the redemption of Tamar when he looked at Rahab and was willing to offer her the same grace that had been extended to his ancestor. Together they had a son and they named him Boaz. All three of these names can be found in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

What would the young man, Jesus, have to say of this woman in his family story? What would Jesus have to say of this woman with a history of sexual immorality? Perhaps Jesus’ thoughts went to Rahab when he knelt down and wrote in the sand:

“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”

They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down and wrote in the dust.

When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

“No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” – John 8:4-11

Perhaps there is a “scarlet rope” in your past that has kept you in bondage when God wants to use it for your escape. Just like Tamar and Rahab, God’s perfect plan for you includes redemption and forgiveness – new life in Christ. Or perhaps there is someone in your life for whom God intends redemption and forgiveness but you are using the “scarlet rope” to keep them in bondage, unwilling to forgive or forget the sinful decisions they have made.

Jesus is stooping down and writing something in the sand. Listen closely. He is saying something. “But let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Let’s put down the stone in our hand, unwrap the scarlet rope from around her reputation and offer her the same thing that God offers her – redemption and forgiveness; new life in Christ.