The Monumental Gift and the Heart of the Giver – Luke 1:1-4 AMP
Since [as is well known] many have undertaken to compile an orderly account of the things which have been fulfilled among us [by God], exactly as they were handed down to us by those [with personal experience] who from the beginning [of Christ’s ministry] were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word [that is, of the teaching concerning salvation through faith in Christ], it seemed fitting for me as well, [and so I have decided] after having carefully…
The Goodness of a Sacrificial Leader – I Peter 2:20-25 (emphasis mine)
But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. TO THIS YOU WERE CALLED, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not…
The Generational Plans of God to Redeem Broken People – Ruth 4:18-22
This, then, is the family line of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David. –Parallel verses: Matthew 1:1-6aThis is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the…
Blessed Richly Beyond – Ruth 4:13-17
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. 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! 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…
How Am I Valued, What Am I Worth? – Ruth 4:1-12
Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there just as the guardian-redeemer he had mentioned came along. Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down. Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, “Sit here,” and they did so. Then he said to the guardian-redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to…
The Guardian Redeemer & God’s Bigger Blessing – Ruth 3:12-18
Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family, there is another who is more closely related than I. Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your guardian-redeemer, good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives I will do it. Lie here until morning.” So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up…
Giving the Practice of Praise First Place – Psalms 111:1, 3-5, 7-8, 10 AMP
“Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!) I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart, In the company of the upright and in the congregation.Splendid and majestic is His work, And His righteousness endures forever. He has made His wonderful acts to be remembered; The Lord is gracious and merciful and full of loving compassion. He has given food to those who fear Him [with awe-inspired reverence]; He will remember His covenant forever.The works of His hands…
Divine Provision Through Contentment in Pain – Ruth 3:1-11
One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for. Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished…
With Hard Work, God Provides – Ruth 2:20-23
“The Lord bless him!” Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. “He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.” She added, “That man is our close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers.” Then Ruth the Moabite said, “He even said to me, ‘Stay with my workers until they finish harvesting all my grain.’ ” Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It will be good for you, my daughter, to go with the women who…