Kinsman-Redeemer

 

Ruth 3:9 “He said, ‘Who are you?’ And she answered, ‘I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer”.

Who has been a redeemer in your life? Who has taken you out of the darkness? Who has cared for you above all else?

On my worst days, I find myself thinking that I am all alone. In college, I struggled with a high amount of anxiety and depression. I kept seeking and attempting to find something that wasn’t there. I turned to the emptiness of sin to find satisfaction and meaning in my life. At this time, I didn’t depend on God, and I wasn’t searching for Him at all. I had a relationship with God, but I was fighting Him every step of the way.

I asked myself the question above, “Who can redeem me from this place that I am in”? I knew that God was always there for me and cared for me no matter what happened, but at the end of the day, I didn’t think He should. I thought that He shouldn’t love someone like me. I wasn’t good enough to be loved and cared for by a Savior.

Sin is rooted deeply into all of our lives. Our flesh gives into sin naturally. However, there is One thing that can redeem us and save us from this…our kinsman-redeemer Jesus. In the story of Ruth, Ruth’s husband passed away and she was left with her mother-in-law, Naomi. In this time, it was extremely difficult for women to survive without a male family member. The one way one would be able to survive, and flourish was through a kinsman-redeemer. The kinsman redeemer would restore the rights and freedom to oneself. Ruth found herself in one of the worst situations, but then God redeemed her through her kinsman-redeemer, Boaz. Even in our worst situations we can be redeemed.

No matter how we got into a terrible situation, through our own sin or external circumstances, Jesus, our kinsman-redeemer, redeems all of it. For me it was my direct sin and anxiety that brought me to depend on Him. Ruth, however, was given a kinsman-redeemer, Boaz. Jesus paid the ransom that we may be with Him forever!

Righteous

Righteous: acting in accord with divine or moral law :  free from guilt or sin. Unrighteous: not righteous :  sinful, wicked (Merriam-Webster)

Judges 19; Acts 23; Jeremiah 33; Psalms 3–4

We’ve got another binary pattern here. We can be either righteous, or unrighteous. As sinful humans, on our own we become unrighteous. Since God is perfect, just, and righteous he cannot tolerate unrighteousness or sin. Knowing that we are sinners in need of a savior, he sent Jesus, the righteous Branch to save us, to forgive our sins so that we may become righteous through him before God’s throne.

The following verses are prophecy pointing to Jesus Christ and in line with Isaiah 11:1. Jesus is referred to as a branch in various places throughout the Bible.

In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ (Jeremiah 33:15-16)

Will you take time and pause to reflect on how Jesus was, and is righteous and how he can make us righteous today? Along with that, here’s a good prayer to call out to God and honor him for his righteousness.

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
    You have given me relief when I was in distress.
    Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! (Psalm 4:1)

Jesus can be called righteous because he is perfect. He never sinned and that made him the perfect sacrifice to take our place. Do we take it for granted that Jesus rose from the dead? He rose from the dead. Say it with me… Jesus rose from the dead. He voluntarily subjected himself to betrayal, torture, and a brutal death, but the grave couldn’t hold him. The one who has power over the grave has power over all things in our lives; sin, pain, depression, emptiness, brokenness, as well as all the great things such as joy and love. We praise you God for all these things!

Next week (Friday 8/12), Cooper Wilken will be a guest author in my place. Cooper is a fine young man; strong in his faith, has a great personality, and is mature beyond his years. Please welcome and encourage this brother in Christ!

Restoration

A recent post by Mike Somers asked two great questions that challenged me, and hopefully challenged our readers as well:

  • What do you long to do each day?
  • What do you look forward to when you wake up each morning?

In line with those questions but adding a scenario: What do you long to do, or what do you look forward to when things in your life seem wrong or misaligned?

Numbers 36; Psalm 80; Isaiah 28; 2 John 1

Once in a while my route home takes me near the entrance to the emergency room at a local hospital. When slowly passing by I will see things like police cars, ambulances, concerned individuals rushing toward the door, and injured people seeking immediate medical attention. These symbols always remind me of times when either myself or someone I care about was not well. I don’t know about you, but when I’m sick, injured, or have a major issue, I don’t care about much else other than wanting to be well again; I seek restoration.

Psalm 80 is about restoration; not from illness but the relationship between God and his people. Three times it repeats a request to God for him to restore them; for His face to shine, that they may be saved (verses 3, 7, 19). So many of us seek restoration in things such as human relationships, physical and mental health, and finances. However, if we are not restored first and foremost with our creator, things will always seem off. He made us for a purpose, for relationship with him and to give him glory.

The Bible overall is a story about restoration between God and his people. In the beginning Adam and Eve had a close relationship with God, then came sin and the fall of mankind. This sin separated them and us from God, thus the need for restoration. The only way we can be restored is through faith in Jesus Christ; he can be our restorer if we so choose to follow him.

This week I had the opportunity to meet some amazingly gifted and humble individuals from a non-profit organization called Spread Truth. This organization has produced a captivating video that in just six minutes brings the story of the Bible to life through animated video, voice, and music. It is a simple story for all of us, one that starts in the beginning and ends in restoration. This video is a great evangelism tool to help spread the gospel. Check it out:  Story4.us/jonbharris