Pastor Hill: What we have when we have Jesus

The story began with famine and funerals but ends with a wonderful wedding. We see Ruth going from weeping to joy, Ps 30:5, “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” In this amazing story we discover what we have when we have Jesus.

Speaking the Truth in Love by Pastor Tommy Hill

Speaking the Truth in Love
by Pastor Tommy Hill

REDEMPTION BY CHRIST: Rev. 5:9, “for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood” The story of Ruth is a picture of our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. We were “dead in our trespasses and sins,” but in Christ, we are redeemed by His shed blood on the cross. Redemption places us in the family. Jesus becomes our Elder brother. We are no longer alone. With Ruth’s redemption she immediately joins Boaz’ family. She now has parents, siblings and extended family members. We enjoy the same as part of the family of God. There is a verse in a song that says:

“I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God,

Born by His Spirit, washed in His blood,

Joint-heirs with Jesus, as we travel this sod,

I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God.”

ROYALTY BECAUSE OF CHRIST: Rev. 5:10, “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests:” Boaz was a mighty man of wealth according to Ruth 2. He was a near kinsman of Naomi. When he saw Ruth gleaning in the fields he inquired of her and the rest is history as we say. What a beautiful romance this is between Boaz and Ruth. This paints the perfect picture of how Jesus came and found us, gave His life for us and received us into His family. He was under no obligation to us but He loved us.

When we, by faith trust in Him we become part of His royal family, (1Pe 2:9). In Genesis 45, Joseph tells his brothers to tell their father of all “his glory that they have seen.” In Christ, we are placed in His royal family. Boaz wasn’t required to marry Ruth; he married her because he loved her. In like manner, Christ did not have to give His life for us; He did so because He loves us. He loves us not because we are valuable, but we are valuable because He loves us. We become royal because He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.

FUTURE REIGN WITH CHRIST: Rev. 5: 10, “and we shall reign on the earth.” In 2 Timothy 2, Paul tells us, “we shall also reign with him:” As Christians, we have faced much in this world but let us “look up” our redemption draweth nigh. What a day that will be when we see Jesus? John says in Rev. 20:6 that we “shall reign with him a thousand years.”

Ruth was born a Moabite, was living under a curse (Deut. 23:3), and where the law could not admit Ruth, Boaz (our Christ in typology) redeemed her. In like manner, we were strangers from the covenant of promise, unable to enjoy the promises of God, without hope in this world, but God sent His only Son to redeem us from the curse of the law and now we will reign with Him (Eph. 2:12-16).

What a future awaits those who trust in Christ. Ruth was facing sin, sorrow, ruin, and death. Now she has fortune, fame, family, and a great future. Who doesn’t want that? Everything we see in the life of Ruth is available for us as well. What a great Savior we serve!

Some pastoral thoughts: I would like to encourage Christians to find a local New Testament Church in which to worship. When we grow in our understanding of all Jesus has given, we should find it hard to find an available seat in our churches. The conclusion must be drawn that we still have much knowledge to gain in all that Christ has done. This knowledge would not keep us away if an admission fee were required because we recognize the value of worshipping our Lord.

If you have Jesus, do you know what you have? “But speaking the truth in love…” Eph. 4:15. I offer this thought to help us all see the need of becoming part of a local church family. It’s very important for our spiritual growth. Have you ever heard someone say, “You should have been there?”

I wonder how often Christ would tell us the same? Christ imparts many blessings through the preaching of His Word. We lose much when we are absent. Just a little thought from my heart to our readers. God Bless!

Pastor Tommy Hill is the pastor of First Free Will Baptist Church in Hamlet. He is a Richmond County native. He can be reached at firstfwbchurchhamlet@gmail.com. His column will appear each Friday in The Pee Dee Post.

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