The idea of a Redeemer has fascinated me for a long time. Redemption can mean a lot of things. Like to redeem a coupon. Basically, the value of the coupon is worthless except for it's expressed written intent. When used for other means it really can't buy you much but if it is used for it's purpose then it has value. This is an interesting thought when considering Christ's redemption of us, the redeemed. We truly have no value apart from Him. In John 15 Jesus says apart from me you can do NOTHING. That's a big statement from our perspective. But it is so true. Even those of great accomplishment apart from Christ will be consumed upon our Lord's return.
But the idea of redemption that really fascinates me is the idea of a restored life so full and complete that it is restored to a better condition than it's original form and purpose. I believe we see this throughout scripture and redemptive history. This is not a new idea but it is one that really makes my heart swell with hope and joy. It fills me with praise and adoration for a God that is so awesome, loving, and kind.
We see this redemptive story line play out in so many of the patriachs of the OT. Abraham with his promised son, Moses as leader of his people, Job with his many trials is given double because of his faithfulness, Joseph, sold into slavery by his brothers is actually the vessel used to save those same brothers later in life. Only God could do these things in the lives of broken jars of clay.
The story that is most inspiring is the story of Ruth. It speaks directly to this idea of "kinsman-Redeemer. This title of "kinsman-Redeemer" is a title given to Christ. Boaz in Ruth's life is a type of Christ. We all know the story of Ruth but the backdrop really set's the stage. The book of Ruth begins with a famine. A famine is an external trial that is beyond any of our control. Life tends to come at us and we can make a mess of it by ourselves with no help at all but when something external hits us it is just that much more overwhelming. The result of the famine led to death. Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law, was widowed as a result. Ten years later so was Ruth. In those days women had no options. They couldn't just pick up there lives, find jobs and move on. Woman were solely dependent upon their husbands for covering, protection, and most importantly provision. Naomi's and Ruth's situation was hopeless. They had nothing but a piece of land and no one to care for them or the land.
Naomi's plan was to return to her homeland sell the property and hope it was enough to outlast the famine. Regardless, the money would run out and she would eventually die. Ruth committed to Naomi and made the decision to follow Naomi and essentially realize the same hopeless demise.
But there was one other possiblity availabe to them and that was the idea of a "kinsman-Redeemer". Boaz was in a line of possible kinsman-Redeemers. The title essentially described a relative that was given the ability to purchase property and take wives who were widowed within the family or kin. This was the people of God's way of taking care of the widowed and poor. The kinsman-Redeemer depending on his place in line had the option but not required to make the transaction and "redeem" the relatives. In other words become the covering, protection, and provider of the relatives in desperate need. It was His prerogative and choice. He was under no obligation to do anything. If he had the means, inclination and benevolent heart to do so then he could act but only if he chose to.
Boaz was a benevolent kinsman-redeemer and in Ruth 4:9 Boaz declares before the elders, "Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion and Mahlon. 10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon's widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from the town records. Today you are witnesses!"
At this point the transaction is consummated and now Naomi and Ruth are provided for. Boaz takes Ruth as his wife and if the story ended there it would be a beautiful account of how God is faithful to the poor who submit and desire to honor HIM. But the story doesn't end there. And this is why I am fascinated by this idea of Redemption.
God's redemption of our lives is not simple restoration. Restoration is beautiful. We all love to see an old abandoned house restored to it's original form. But this is NOT where God stops. His is a restoration that creates something totally new and better than it's original form and purpose.
Ruth was taken as Boaz's wife. Boaz loved Ruth. God blessed their union and they conceived a child. But not just any child because Obed was the father of Jessie who was the father of David. The greatest King of Israel and ultimately the lineage that led to Jesus, "the son of David".
This is how God so amazes me. Forces beyond our control and in many cases pain that is self inflected failure devastates and creates impossible circumstances that leave us desolate, desperate and dying. We have no where to turn we have no hope. If He doesn't choose to save us we are lost forever. Not only are we lost but our name is wiped out for ever. And in our despair our kinsman-Redeemer comes to our rescue. Jesus purchases us and not only covers us, He not only protects us, and provides for us but He restores what was hopelessly lost forever, our name.
Psalm 112 says that the offspring of the righteous will be mighty in the land. Where sin and self indulgence has corrupted, where external forces have warred against us and has devastated our hopes, dreams and aspirations He is more than able to take what is broken and seemingly hopeless and create something that is so far beyond our wildest dreams. He is so good. He is so wonderful. Words can't describe how awesome is our Great God and King. He is my kinsman-redeemer and I love Him.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Really? Seriously? Nothing?
Do "nothing" out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Phillipians 2:3
Really Paul? You can't be serious can you? "Nothing"? Really? ....... I am so not there. In fact just about everything I do is out of gross self interest. Surely Paul's words don't apply in the grocery store do they? We have all been there. You spot a lane at the grocery store and you look up and so did a guy on the other side and your in a hurry. My first thought is "speed up". Get there first. Isn't it true we have that thought every day all day? Getting to the isle first would be selfish so on my better days I let the guy go ahead. But where I think it is most difficult and also the greatest test is when we have been wronged by another person.
The greater the offense the harder Paul's words become. "Do "nothing" out of selfish ambition. Consider others better than yourselves." This is impossible when we believe we have "rights". It is so easy to fall into the trap of the world mindset that says we deserve better, we deserve more. We easily say to ourselves "It's my turn" I am doing this for me" All those "me" statements are very real and natural to the carnal flesh. And no doubt Dr. Phil would affirm your right to happiness. But Paul's admonishment is the exact opposite of the "Me First" way. As Christ continues to transform my heart I grow ever increasingly aware of my self centered ways.
In my depraved state I just have one set of lenses. They are the "me" lenses. And those are the only lenses I see everything through. You see it everywhere in advertising. We live in the entitlement age. We have all seen the ads with common themes like "you deserve the best" You deserve the nice car, nice house, nice whatever, and you especially deserve a break. The reality is that we don't "deserve" to be happy. It is NOT our right. What we deserve is death. What we get is life and freedom. Freedom to serve the One who purchased us with His own blood. Paul said, "I am not my own, I have been bought with a price." I Cor 6. We serve at His pleasure. He does what He wants to when He wants to with us.
To make a statement like "I deserve this or that" or "I am not going to put up with it any longer", is a form of rebellion that has no place within the heart of the believer. We serve at His pleasure. He determines what we put up with and for how long.
While Paul was in prison, beaten, starved, cold and wet, chained to the wall, he wrote to the Phillippian believers. He could have wrote of his sufferings, his health, his loneliness, his anger at his tormentors, his mistreatment, the injustice, his wounds, or his hunger. But had he done so he would have not been able to write "do nothing out of selfish ambition" he follows it up with the impossible "consider others better than yourself". If he is going to be true to that statement then he can't dwell on his pain and suffering can he? Rather he has to do what he did and that is focus on the Philippians and their needs and his desire to see God's glory magnified in his trials.
By the end of his letter to the Philippians he writes "Rejoice and again he said to rejoice" Phillipians 4. In his sufferings, while focusing on others, he comes to a place of peace and can say "Rejoice!" Paul puts me to shame. In his suffering he was true to his exhortation. While he could have, like me focused on his pain, he instead focused on the only lasting joy, the edification of the Lord's glory and His great name. Focusing on others provided the strength that he needed to endure but Paul gives another clue to his unbelievable overcoming strategy.
In his letter to the Romans Paul doesn't dwell on the past or his present condition but rather he looks to the hope he has in Christ. In Romans he writes, "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:16-18
Do I truly believe that the future glory is worth any pain I might endure here? Do I truly believe that in spite of pain or offenses that I should serve others including those who offend in hope of realizing a greater glory? If given the choice of removing myself from any discomfort and pain or remaining faithful and serving others would I choose to stay and serve? What do I believe? When is faith most evident? Is it most evident in good times or is it's greatest demonstration in times of pain?
I guess I need some more time on the alter putting my flesh to death
Really Paul? You can't be serious can you? "Nothing"? Really? ....... I am so not there. In fact just about everything I do is out of gross self interest. Surely Paul's words don't apply in the grocery store do they? We have all been there. You spot a lane at the grocery store and you look up and so did a guy on the other side and your in a hurry. My first thought is "speed up". Get there first. Isn't it true we have that thought every day all day? Getting to the isle first would be selfish so on my better days I let the guy go ahead. But where I think it is most difficult and also the greatest test is when we have been wronged by another person.
The greater the offense the harder Paul's words become. "Do "nothing" out of selfish ambition. Consider others better than yourselves." This is impossible when we believe we have "rights". It is so easy to fall into the trap of the world mindset that says we deserve better, we deserve more. We easily say to ourselves "It's my turn" I am doing this for me" All those "me" statements are very real and natural to the carnal flesh. And no doubt Dr. Phil would affirm your right to happiness. But Paul's admonishment is the exact opposite of the "Me First" way. As Christ continues to transform my heart I grow ever increasingly aware of my self centered ways.
In my depraved state I just have one set of lenses. They are the "me" lenses. And those are the only lenses I see everything through. You see it everywhere in advertising. We live in the entitlement age. We have all seen the ads with common themes like "you deserve the best" You deserve the nice car, nice house, nice whatever, and you especially deserve a break. The reality is that we don't "deserve" to be happy. It is NOT our right. What we deserve is death. What we get is life and freedom. Freedom to serve the One who purchased us with His own blood. Paul said, "I am not my own, I have been bought with a price." I Cor 6. We serve at His pleasure. He does what He wants to when He wants to with us.
To make a statement like "I deserve this or that" or "I am not going to put up with it any longer", is a form of rebellion that has no place within the heart of the believer. We serve at His pleasure. He determines what we put up with and for how long.
While Paul was in prison, beaten, starved, cold and wet, chained to the wall, he wrote to the Phillippian believers. He could have wrote of his sufferings, his health, his loneliness, his anger at his tormentors, his mistreatment, the injustice, his wounds, or his hunger. But had he done so he would have not been able to write "do nothing out of selfish ambition" he follows it up with the impossible "consider others better than yourself". If he is going to be true to that statement then he can't dwell on his pain and suffering can he? Rather he has to do what he did and that is focus on the Philippians and their needs and his desire to see God's glory magnified in his trials.
By the end of his letter to the Philippians he writes "Rejoice and again he said to rejoice" Phillipians 4. In his sufferings, while focusing on others, he comes to a place of peace and can say "Rejoice!" Paul puts me to shame. In his suffering he was true to his exhortation. While he could have, like me focused on his pain, he instead focused on the only lasting joy, the edification of the Lord's glory and His great name. Focusing on others provided the strength that he needed to endure but Paul gives another clue to his unbelievable overcoming strategy.
In his letter to the Romans Paul doesn't dwell on the past or his present condition but rather he looks to the hope he has in Christ. In Romans he writes, "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:16-18
Do I truly believe that the future glory is worth any pain I might endure here? Do I truly believe that in spite of pain or offenses that I should serve others including those who offend in hope of realizing a greater glory? If given the choice of removing myself from any discomfort and pain or remaining faithful and serving others would I choose to stay and serve? What do I believe? When is faith most evident? Is it most evident in good times or is it's greatest demonstration in times of pain?
I guess I need some more time on the alter putting my flesh to death
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