Daily Reading: Ruth 3-4
Scripture Focus: Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer. (Ruth 3.9)
Devotional Thought: Have you ever needed to just have someone in your corner, someone to believe in you, someone to rescue you? There are times in life when it seems that everything has gone wrong and you need a friend. Ruth had gone through such a time.
A foreigner to Israel, Ruth found herself destitute and homeless when her husband died. Not only so, but her father-in-law and brother-in-law died, too. She needed rescued. But, there was hope. According to the custom of the day, a widow and her family had a redeemer. The nearest relative was instructed by law to buy the widow's property, care for the widow, and take her into his home. Boaz was that person for Ruth.
So what did she do? She boldly - yet discreetly - went to him and orchestrated a way to make it all happen. Having made known her plight to the kind-hearted Boaz, Ruth said, "Spread your wings [the corner of your garment] over me, for you are a redeemer." Boaz was thrilled! He would gladly redeem her and provide a home for her. Not only that, he would do one better than rescue her. He would marry her!
We all need rescued, for "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We try to do things to save ourselves, but that just isn't possible because "all our righteous acts are like filthy rags." We need someone to spread his wings over us. We need a Redeemer.
Do you realize that you have a Redeemer? It is Jesus! Come with boldness to him and pray as Ruth said to Boaz, "Spread your wings over me, for you are my Redeemer."
Prayer: Jesus, I need your help. My sins are as scarlet, and there is nothing I can do to wash them away. Will you spread your wings over me, for you are my Redeemer? Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 64.1-10
1 Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy. 2 Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers, 3 who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows, 4 shooting from ambush at the blameless, shooting at him suddenly and without fear. 5 They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, “Who can see them?” 6 They search out injustice, saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.” For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep.
7 But God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly. 8 They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; all who see them will wag their heads. 9 Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done.
10 Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!
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