WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.280 morning. It's my joy to be with you all again and bring God's Word to you. If you've been with us 00:00:07.280 --> 00:00:13.419 over the last several weeks, you know that we are in the book of Ruth. And we're in Ruth chapter 2, 00:00:13.900 --> 00:00:17.719 kind of at the middle point. We're going to be starting at verse 14 this morning. 00:00:19.500 --> 00:00:26.480 Now as we start, if you live in Colorado Springs, I'd imagine that like me, you see a lot of cyclists 00:00:26.480 --> 00:00:35.079 on the road. And they're usually doing one of two things. They're either going up or they're going 00:00:35.079 --> 00:00:40.460 down. Because that's most of the options. In fact, that's not just cyclists. That's most of us here 00:00:40.460 --> 00:00:44.760 here in Colorado Springs. We're either going up something or down it. And I'm not saying 00:00:44.760 --> 00:00:50.439 completely there. There are some flat places. But if you're a hiker, you're probably not hiking flat. 00:00:50.439 --> 00:00:57.179 You're going up. You get to see a beautiful view. And then you go down. And I've been telling you 00:00:57.179 --> 00:01:02.820 for the last several weeks that Ruth is a book about suffering. And I've told you that it's a book 00:01:02.820 --> 00:01:09.079 about suffering because it's a book about widows and because it's a book about those who live in a 00:01:09.079 --> 00:01:15.259 country where they weren't born. But that is just one half of the story. I've been holding back on you 00:01:15.260 --> 00:01:21.780 a little bit. That has just been the uphill climb. It's not just a book about suffering. 00:01:23.240 --> 00:01:29.960 It's also a book about redemption. And it's a book about redemption because it's about God 00:01:29.960 --> 00:01:35.719 caring and sustaining people who are in the midst of suffering. And so for the last several weeks, 00:01:35.780 --> 00:01:43.380 we've been doing the very hard work of hiking uphill on a steep grade. We've had to talk about 00:01:43.379 --> 00:01:48.500 very serious suffering week after week after week. And I'm here to tell you that we are now 00:01:48.500 --> 00:01:54.739 at the glorious view that we've been waiting for. We've made it to the lookout. And if you're a 00:01:54.739 --> 00:01:59.479 cyclist and you make it to the very top, you know that the steeper the climb is, the more frightening 00:01:59.479 --> 00:02:04.699 and fast the descent. That sometimes you have to hold on to your handlebars and make sure to see if 00:02:04.699 --> 00:02:09.439 you can actually make it down without wrecking. At least if you're an inexperienced cyclist like me. 00:02:10.079 --> 00:02:12.960 Grant doesn't do that. He takes his hands off the wheels when he's going downhill. 00:02:14.379 --> 00:02:19.359 And so we've done this uphill climb all the way up of seeing this intense suffering through chapter 00:02:19.359 --> 00:02:25.539 one and part of chapter two. And now we're going to get to see the payoff. We're going to get to see 00:02:25.539 --> 00:02:33.840 not just the Ruth and Naomi of chapter one, but the Ruth and Naomi of chapters two and three and four. 00:02:35.460 --> 00:02:41.800 And as one of my friends puts it, when we're in chapter one in our lives, we have to remember the rest of 00:02:41.800 --> 00:02:48.640 the book. We have to remember chapters two and three and four. If you've been with us, then you're 00:02:48.640 --> 00:02:54.820 familiar with the story. You know that at the beginning we met a woman named Naomi. Naomi lived 00:02:54.820 --> 00:03:00.240 in the country of Israel, the land of Israel. And there was a problem. There was a famine. So Naomi 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:05.560 and her husband, the Limelech, and their two sons moved from the land of Israel to the land of Moab. 00:03:05.560 --> 00:03:10.900 Now the land of Moab was not God's promised land. It was not filled with God's people. And so 00:03:10.900 --> 00:03:16.560 they left God's people for a land where there was worship of other gods, the worship of Baal and 00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:22.259 Chemosh. But they left there because there was a famine. While they were there, both their sons 00:03:22.259 --> 00:03:30.340 were married to two women, Ruth and Orpah. And after 10 years without any children, all the men die. 00:03:30.340 --> 00:03:38.000 Elimelech dies as well as his two sons. And so Naomi and her two daughters-in-law are left to 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:43.039 return from the land of Israel, or excuse me, from the land of Moab to the land of Israel because they 00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:50.659 hear at that very time God has finally visited his people with food. On the way back, Orpah and Ruth are 00:03:50.659 --> 00:03:57.280 both going with Naomi, but Naomi urges them as strongly as she can not to stay with her. So Orpah chooses to 00:03:57.280 --> 00:04:03.900 return, but Ruth, making an incredible vow in chapter 1 verses 16 and 17, says that she will stay with 00:04:03.900 --> 00:04:10.800 Naomi no matter what. When they return, Naomi is filled with her own grief and bitterness. And despite 00:04:10.800 --> 00:04:16.399 all the ways that God has been caring for her and sustaining her, she accuses God of making her empty 00:04:16.399 --> 00:04:23.939 when she had been full. And in all of this, more than suffering and redemption, we have seen 00:04:23.939 --> 00:04:29.759 God's love. Remember I told you about the Hebrew word hesed, which roughly translated by the Jesus 00:04:29.759 --> 00:04:37.439 Storybook Bible means God's never stopping, never giving up, unbreaking, always and forever love. 00:04:38.939 --> 00:04:44.139 And so what we've seen up to this point could be broken into two things. God's hesed towards us, 00:04:44.839 --> 00:04:53.100 God's unbreaking, unstopping love towards us. We see that love towards Ruth and Naomi as he provides food 00:04:53.100 --> 00:05:00.180 in their homeland for them. We see it to Naomi specifically as he provides Ruth. We see it as they come to 00:05:00.180 --> 00:05:05.900 the land of Israel right at the time of harvest, at the exact time when they need to come to be able to eat. 00:05:06.920 --> 00:05:12.760 But we don't just see God's steadfast love to his people, we also see his people's steadfast love to each other. 00:05:14.100 --> 00:05:16.540 We saw Ruth's commitment to Naomi. 00:05:16.540 --> 00:05:22.360 We saw that faith commits to those who suffer even when there's nothing to gain. 00:05:23.660 --> 00:05:28.160 And we saw Ruth's continued commitment at the beginning of chapter 2. Remember last week, 00:05:28.460 --> 00:05:31.939 we asked a question, how do we sustain the life of faith? 00:05:33.320 --> 00:05:36.240 How do we keep up our love towards other people? 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:43.240 And we saw that it just so happened that Ruth came to the right field at the right time. 00:05:44.139 --> 00:05:49.500 We saw that the way that we sustain our faith is that God sustains us. 00:05:50.280 --> 00:05:56.139 That when God's people go on God's mission, he is the one who motivates and sustains. 00:05:56.139 --> 00:06:04.019 We've been focusing heavily on Ruth, and even with last week's reading, I didn't point out many things about Boaz. 00:06:04.959 --> 00:06:07.979 But now we're going to be turning from Ruth to Boaz. 00:06:08.519 --> 00:06:12.779 And we're going to ask the question, what does it mean to go on God's mission? 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:19.039 If God supports his people when they go on his mission, then what is that mission? 00:06:19.879 --> 00:06:24.060 We've seen part of it with Ruth, we've seen her commitment to Naomi who was suffering. 00:06:24.060 --> 00:06:27.540 And now we're going to continue with this character called Boaz. 00:06:27.620 --> 00:06:32.620 Now, I'm confident that some of you are disappointed at this point in the series on Ruth. 00:06:33.500 --> 00:06:37.040 Because I have not addressed an incredibly important topic. 00:06:38.160 --> 00:06:38.920 And it's this. 00:06:39.660 --> 00:06:42.819 What are the 12 ways to find your Boaz? 00:06:44.840 --> 00:06:47.180 You can laugh. It's a joke. 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:52.519 We are unfortunately not going to be discovering 12 ways to find your Boaz. 00:06:52.519 --> 00:06:57.620 But we are going to look at Boaz as part of our answer for this question. 00:06:57.699 --> 00:07:00.379 What does it mean to go on God's mission? 00:07:00.719 --> 00:07:07.399 If it's true that what we learned last week, if it's true that God's people have God's support when they go on God's mission, 00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:09.319 what is that mission? 00:07:10.339 --> 00:07:12.779 So we are in Ruth chapter 2. 00:07:13.339 --> 00:07:15.399 We're picking up at verse 14. 00:07:16.299 --> 00:07:17.979 Remember that this is God's word. 00:07:17.980 --> 00:07:23.220 And God tells us that his word is more precious than gold. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:25.240 Even the finest gold. 00:07:25.939 --> 00:07:28.180 And that it is sweeter than honey. 00:07:29.220 --> 00:07:31.900 Even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:07:33.180 --> 00:07:34.400 And so we're going to turn to it now. 00:07:34.500 --> 00:07:36.780 We're in Ruth chapter 2, starting at verse 14. 00:07:36.779 --> 00:08:01.879 Verse 16. 00:08:06.779 --> 00:08:36.759 Verse 16. 00:08:36.779 --> 00:09:06.759 Verse 17. 00:09:06.759 --> 00:09:12.600 Verse 22. 00:09:13.639 --> 00:09:15.740 And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, 00:09:16.120 --> 00:09:22.120 It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted. 00:09:23.179 --> 00:09:28.500 So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. 00:09:28.899 --> 00:09:30.679 And she lived with her mother-in-law. 00:09:30.679 --> 00:09:31.839 And she would behold. 00:09:32.600 --> 00:09:35.460 Please pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:09:37.940 --> 00:09:39.160 Dear Father in heaven, 00:09:40.120 --> 00:09:43.940 we thank you that you have given us the gift of your word 00:09:43.940 --> 00:09:47.840 and that it is for our good and your glory. 00:09:48.660 --> 00:09:50.300 We ask that you would help us 00:09:50.300 --> 00:09:52.860 because when we open your word, 00:09:52.860 --> 00:09:56.780 we are trying to do something that is impossible without you, 00:09:57.200 --> 00:09:59.019 which is to hear you speak. 00:10:00.019 --> 00:10:02.620 And so we ask that you would speak to us today, 00:10:02.899 --> 00:10:06.740 that you would open up our ears so that we can hear. 00:10:07.699 --> 00:10:09.139 You'd open our eyes so that we can see, 00:10:09.240 --> 00:10:10.600 that you would soften our hearts, 00:10:10.699 --> 00:10:13.379 that we would be willing to hear and believe 00:10:13.379 --> 00:10:15.220 everything that is written in your word. 00:10:16.019 --> 00:10:17.799 We ask this in the name of your son. 00:10:18.699 --> 00:10:19.000 Amen. 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:24.039 Remember, we're asking the question of 00:10:24.039 --> 00:10:27.299 what does it mean to go on God's mission? 00:10:27.299 --> 00:10:29.899 And we're focusing on the character of Boaz. 00:10:30.659 --> 00:10:32.979 We saw a little bit from Boaz last week. 00:10:33.079 --> 00:10:35.379 If you remember in verses 8 and 9, 00:10:35.899 --> 00:10:39.599 he showed this incredible generosity to Ruth as she was gleaning. 00:10:40.859 --> 00:10:42.059 He says to her in verse 8, 00:10:42.139 --> 00:10:42.879 Now listen, my daughter, 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:45.240 do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, 00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:46.819 but keep close to my young women. 00:10:47.819 --> 00:10:49.779 He gives her special status as a gleaner 00:10:49.779 --> 00:10:52.120 and has her keep close to his personal staff 00:10:52.120 --> 00:10:55.359 so that she can have the first pick of the gleanings. 00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:57.800 And then in verse 9, 00:10:57.879 --> 00:10:59.539 Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping 00:10:59.539 --> 00:11:00.300 and go after them. 00:11:00.500 --> 00:11:02.600 Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? 00:11:03.340 --> 00:11:04.180 And when you are thirsty, 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:06.600 go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn. 00:11:07.220 --> 00:11:09.220 And so he doesn't just give her special access 00:11:09.220 --> 00:11:10.620 to the gleanings, 00:11:10.680 --> 00:11:12.539 but he gives her special protection as well. 00:11:12.779 --> 00:11:15.800 And he gives her a special water source. 00:11:16.759 --> 00:11:19.340 That instead of being a woman who draws water for men, 00:11:19.340 --> 00:11:21.659 men are going to draw water for her. 00:11:21.659 --> 00:11:25.039 This same generosity continues even more. 00:11:25.100 --> 00:11:25.980 If that were not enough, 00:11:26.179 --> 00:11:28.399 it grows in this section that we just read. 00:11:28.500 --> 00:11:29.379 In verse 14, 00:11:29.879 --> 00:11:31.659 he invites her to the company lunch table. 00:11:33.240 --> 00:11:34.959 And so she's not left for 00:11:34.959 --> 00:11:37.039 what she may have brought on her own. 00:11:37.100 --> 00:11:37.860 And not just that, 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:39.639 she gets to take a doggy bag home with her. 00:11:40.740 --> 00:11:41.699 Did you notice that? 00:11:43.939 --> 00:11:46.659 They pass her the roasted grain in verse 14, 00:11:46.659 --> 00:11:48.059 and she ate until she was satisfied 00:11:48.059 --> 00:11:50.339 and since she had some left over. 00:11:51.039 --> 00:11:52.360 And then you'll notice later on, 00:11:53.000 --> 00:11:54.559 she gives that to her mother-in-law. 00:11:55.459 --> 00:11:56.219 So verse 18, 00:11:56.339 --> 00:11:57.639 she also brought out and gave her 00:11:57.639 --> 00:11:59.759 what food she had left over after being satisfied. 00:12:01.259 --> 00:12:04.059 And so Ruth is not just gleaning an excessive amount. 00:12:05.139 --> 00:12:09.059 She also gets a free lunch for her and Naomi, 00:12:09.139 --> 00:12:09.939 who isn't even there. 00:12:11.620 --> 00:12:14.699 So Boaz's generosity here is overflowing. 00:12:14.700 --> 00:12:16.780 In fact, he gives her even greater access 00:12:16.780 --> 00:12:18.800 in verse 16 and 15. 00:12:19.780 --> 00:12:19.960 It says, 00:12:20.140 --> 00:12:21.720 let her glean even among the sheaves 00:12:21.720 --> 00:12:22.680 and do not reproach her. 00:12:23.460 --> 00:12:24.920 Remember that the practice of gleaning 00:12:24.920 --> 00:12:27.280 was one where someone would follow after the reapers 00:12:27.280 --> 00:12:28.520 during the harvest, 00:12:28.640 --> 00:12:29.540 and what was dropped, 00:12:30.160 --> 00:12:31.360 they would be able to pick up. 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:32.879 They were essentially the cleaning crew. 00:12:33.520 --> 00:12:34.460 But here he's saying, 00:12:34.580 --> 00:12:36.320 she doesn't have to just be the cleanup crew 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:37.100 behind the reapers. 00:12:37.660 --> 00:12:40.100 She can come after the sheaves have been stacked. 00:12:40.660 --> 00:12:42.420 She can have a second go through, 00:12:42.560 --> 00:12:43.700 something that none of the other gleaners 00:12:43.700 --> 00:12:45.259 would be given access to. 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:49.259 And they're even going to pull out extra for her. 00:12:49.420 --> 00:12:50.680 So it's not just going to be 00:12:50.680 --> 00:12:52.100 what's been accidentally dropped, 00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:54.680 it's going to be what's purposefully dropped. 00:12:57.379 --> 00:13:01.360 And so if Boaz's generosity seemed large last week, 00:13:01.780 --> 00:13:04.879 it's even more this week. 00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:06.820 It's even greater. 00:13:06.820 --> 00:13:09.200 It's almost too much to believe. 00:13:09.400 --> 00:13:12.140 And so that's why Naomi has the response that she does. 00:13:15.820 --> 00:13:18.240 So what does it mean to go on God's mission? 00:13:20.440 --> 00:13:22.700 We saw several weeks ago with Ruth 00:13:22.700 --> 00:13:25.260 that she had nothing to give but her commitment. 00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:27.440 And so that's what she gave. 00:13:28.700 --> 00:13:30.820 She committed to Naomi no matter what, 00:13:30.880 --> 00:13:32.660 even though she had nothing to gain from it. 00:13:32.659 --> 00:13:39.279 But now Boaz models to us incredible generosity. 00:13:42.219 --> 00:13:44.039 Boaz models incredible generosity, 00:13:44.299 --> 00:13:47.259 and it's not just generosity to anyone. 00:13:48.319 --> 00:13:50.219 Remember I pointed out last week 00:13:50.219 --> 00:13:52.579 that Ruth had a new name. 00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:56.059 In chapter one, she was just Ruth, 00:13:56.159 --> 00:13:57.699 but all throughout chapter two, 00:13:57.819 --> 00:13:59.839 she is Ruth the Moabite. 00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:03.320 Because now that she's in a new land, 00:14:03.420 --> 00:14:04.220 she is a foreigner. 00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:07.700 And she's a foreigner with all the liabilities 00:14:07.700 --> 00:14:08.759 that come along with it. 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:11.399 And so Boaz, 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:14.700 he's not showing generosity to his daughter. 00:14:15.700 --> 00:14:17.759 He's not showing generosity to his neighbor. 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:20.500 Boaz is showing generosity 00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:23.720 to one of the most vulnerable women 00:14:23.720 --> 00:14:25.280 in all of Israel. 00:14:27.400 --> 00:14:29.220 She's vulnerable because she has a widow. 00:14:30.519 --> 00:14:32.220 She doesn't have a husband to care for her. 00:14:33.259 --> 00:14:36.019 Her father-in-law has died. 00:14:36.440 --> 00:14:37.780 Her brother-in-law has died. 00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:39.600 There is no man to stand up for her. 00:14:41.300 --> 00:14:43.200 And on top of that, she is a foreigner. 00:14:43.700 --> 00:14:45.600 There are certain things she probably doesn't understand, 00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:46.519 certain things she doesn't get. 00:14:46.580 --> 00:14:48.420 This is all what we talked about last week. 00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:51.080 And Boaz, of all the people he could show generosity to, 00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:54.240 he shows generosity to her. 00:14:54.240 --> 00:15:00.600 So my question for us this morning is this. 00:15:01.980 --> 00:15:04.039 Who is gleaning from us? 00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:09.180 Who is gleaning from you? 00:15:09.179 --> 00:15:15.500 What type of person is gleaning? 00:15:18.299 --> 00:15:19.839 Who, because of your, 00:15:20.599 --> 00:15:22.379 whether it's your power or your wealth 00:15:22.379 --> 00:15:24.639 or your ability or your status, 00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:28.519 how are those things helping 00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:30.859 those who are the most vulnerable 00:15:30.859 --> 00:15:32.399 and the most marginalized? 00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:38.279 Because what Boaz is showing us 00:15:38.279 --> 00:15:40.319 is that God's mission, 00:15:40.779 --> 00:15:43.299 it's so big that it's not just the commitment 00:15:43.299 --> 00:15:44.259 that Ruth models, 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:46.779 but it's the generosity that he models. 00:15:47.559 --> 00:15:48.899 And it's not just any generosity, 00:15:49.079 --> 00:15:51.340 but generosity to remember our New Testament 00:15:51.340 --> 00:15:52.779 reading this morning from James. 00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:54.439 True religion is what? 00:15:54.440 --> 00:15:58.460 To care for orphans and widows in their distress. 00:16:00.640 --> 00:16:03.320 And so we get to continue to turn the diamond of Ruth 00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:05.660 and see all the different aspects of God 00:16:05.660 --> 00:16:07.760 and his love towards us 00:16:07.760 --> 00:16:10.040 and our love for others. 00:16:12.020 --> 00:16:13.560 Now I'll give some caveats here. 00:16:14.600 --> 00:16:15.560 She's gleaning, right? 00:16:16.020 --> 00:16:17.100 This is not a handout. 00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:21.160 But Boaz has provided her with work in his fields. 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:24.380 You know, I found out a few weeks ago 00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:27.000 I continue to find out things about you all, 00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:29.439 things about our congregation, 00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:31.480 and it brings me joy when I do. 00:16:31.580 --> 00:16:32.720 I found out a few weeks ago 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:34.139 that people in this congregation 00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:36.379 have made jobs for each other 00:16:36.379 --> 00:16:38.259 when they needed it. 00:16:40.179 --> 00:16:42.299 People who own businesses and establishments 00:16:42.299 --> 00:16:44.279 created opportunities for work 00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:45.939 for people who are like Ruth, 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:47.620 who are vulnerable, 00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:49.159 who are on the margins. 00:16:51.080 --> 00:16:53.539 It's the reason why we have a diaconate here as a church. 00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:57.399 Because we want there to be gleaning from us. 00:16:59.139 --> 00:17:01.120 We're not just here for our own sake, 00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:02.399 for our own edification. 00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:04.599 We're here as part of God's mission. 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:07.339 And that's not all of God's mission, 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:08.500 but it's a large part of it, 00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:11.859 that God wants us to care for the widow and the orphan, 00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:13.660 for the foreigner, 00:17:13.660 --> 00:17:16.360 in generous, 00:17:16.660 --> 00:17:18.160 in shocking ways. 00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:21.140 And so God wants us to ask, 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:22.960 not how much do I have to give, 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:25.840 how much am I able to give? 00:17:26.840 --> 00:17:29.240 Not what's the lowest amount that I can give, 00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:30.220 but what's the greatest? 00:17:31.220 --> 00:17:33.340 What's the greatest amount that I can give 00:17:33.340 --> 00:17:35.200 to help those in need? 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:38.519 Because the gospel, 00:17:39.120 --> 00:17:41.799 it's for us to use our resources 00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:43.380 to lift other people up, 00:17:43.580 --> 00:17:45.279 rather than to push them down. 00:17:46.420 --> 00:17:48.440 And we live in a world where we're told 00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:50.220 that as we are given resources 00:17:50.220 --> 00:17:51.380 and ability and power, 00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:54.460 we're able to use it to push ourselves up. 00:17:55.200 --> 00:17:56.819 We've had a lot of scandals in our society 00:17:56.819 --> 00:17:59.420 this last year from people who took their power, 00:17:59.420 --> 00:18:01.880 and they used it to push other people down, 00:18:02.220 --> 00:18:03.740 rather than to lift them up, 00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:06.259 in all kinds of ways. 00:18:09.140 --> 00:18:11.220 You see what Naomi says in verse 20? 00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:16.740 Naomi has her first positive word 00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:18.180 in the whole book of Ruth. 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:21.019 And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, 00:18:21.019 --> 00:18:22.740 may he be blessed by the Lord 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:25.779 whose kindness has not forsaken 00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:27.900 the living or the dead. 00:18:27.900 --> 00:18:30.519 Remember, it's that word kindness 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:32.540 that we translate as God's never stopping, 00:18:33.140 --> 00:18:34.240 his never giving up, 00:18:34.560 --> 00:18:36.460 unbreaking, always and forever love. 00:18:37.840 --> 00:18:39.480 And so Naomi, for the first time, 00:18:40.860 --> 00:18:42.400 through Boaz's generosity, 00:18:42.560 --> 00:18:44.220 is able to praise God. 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:47.500 And for the first time, 00:18:47.580 --> 00:18:49.820 she's able to finally see a glimmer of hope. 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:53.019 That what we've been seeing all along, 00:18:53.120 --> 00:18:54.140 Naomi finally sees 00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:55.800 that God has been at work in the dark, 00:18:55.799 --> 00:18:59.079 and God has been at work behind the scenes for her. 00:19:02.220 --> 00:19:04.819 And so would our generosity have the same result 00:19:04.819 --> 00:19:07.339 that people would be able to say like Naomi, 00:19:08.659 --> 00:19:10.440 may he be blessed by the Lord. 00:19:10.639 --> 00:19:11.599 What kind of Lord? 00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:14.419 The Lord whose kindness has not forsaken 00:19:14.419 --> 00:19:15.480 the living and the dead. 00:19:16.139 --> 00:19:17.740 And his kindness that forsakes 00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:19.180 not the living nor the dead 00:19:19.180 --> 00:19:21.319 in practical ways through God's people. 00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:23.200 We'll see this more next week, 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:25.000 but God ministers through his people 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:26.179 to his people. 00:19:27.379 --> 00:19:29.099 He ministers through his people 00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:30.240 to his people. 00:19:30.379 --> 00:19:32.159 And so Boaz here is the instrument 00:19:32.159 --> 00:19:33.659 of God's redemption. 00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:36.579 Then we find out in verse 20, 00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:38.539 the man is a close relative of ours, 00:19:38.659 --> 00:19:40.500 one of our redeemers. 00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:43.920 What does it mean to be a redeemer? 00:19:46.359 --> 00:19:48.380 Well, if you remember the Old Testament story, 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:50.180 you know that God delivered his people 00:19:50.180 --> 00:19:51.559 from slavery in Egypt. 00:19:52.599 --> 00:19:55.119 And he tells them in Leviticus chapter 25 00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:57.240 that because he delivered them from slavery, 00:19:57.779 --> 00:19:59.960 he never wanted them to be slaves again. 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:02.920 And so if there was ever an Israelite 00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:03.640 who was in trouble, 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:06.000 if they had to sell their property, 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:09.640 if they had to sell themselves into slavery 00:20:09.640 --> 00:20:11.839 because they were destitute, 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:15.119 that there should be a relative, 00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:16.180 a redeemer, 00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:19.200 who would come and pay the price. 00:20:19.960 --> 00:20:22.000 That redeemer would buy back the land. 00:20:22.099 --> 00:20:24.259 They would buy back their relative from slavery. 00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:25.579 And so that God, 00:20:25.700 --> 00:20:27.660 because of his great redemption of his people 00:20:27.660 --> 00:20:29.539 by bringing them out of Egypt, 00:20:30.339 --> 00:20:32.740 wanted his people to act as lesser redeemers, 00:20:33.019 --> 00:20:34.519 redeeming each other out of slavery, 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:37.259 that he had redeemed them out of slavery 00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:39.000 and he wanted them to stay that way. 00:20:39.259 --> 00:20:40.619 And so a redeemer was simply 00:20:40.619 --> 00:20:42.139 someone who paid the price 00:20:42.139 --> 00:20:43.759 for another person's freedom. 00:20:45.460 --> 00:20:46.720 Someone who paid the price 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:48.440 for another person's freedom. 00:20:50.180 --> 00:20:52.720 You might think of some examples today 00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:54.660 just to help us understand redemption might be 00:20:54.660 --> 00:20:55.940 if your car is impounded, 00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:59.680 you are going to have to redeem that car from slavery. 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:02.460 You have to pay the price. 00:21:02.460 --> 00:21:07.240 If someone gives a piece of property to a pawn shop 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:08.900 because they need the money, 00:21:10.100 --> 00:21:11.620 that has to be redeemed. 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:13.240 Someone has to pay the price 00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:15.740 to bring it out of the slavery of the pawn shop. 00:21:17.180 --> 00:21:19.200 And so we see here that Boaz 00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:22.900 doesn't just fulfill the office of a redeemer, 00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:24.579 he overflows it. 00:21:24.579 --> 00:21:28.220 We find out in verse 20 that he's a redeemer, 00:21:28.339 --> 00:21:29.759 but in a sense we already knew that. 00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:32.980 We already knew that just by his actions. 00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:36.619 He was willing to sacrifice his own resources 00:21:36.619 --> 00:21:38.480 to buy people out of slavery 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:40.339 to help Ruth and Naomi. 00:21:40.339 --> 00:21:46.079 Now we could end the sermon here. 00:21:47.480 --> 00:21:48.480 I could say, 00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:50.279 Boaz models generosity for us, 00:21:50.299 --> 00:21:51.119 so go and be generous. 00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:54.459 And some of you would be able to do that 00:21:54.459 --> 00:21:55.159 for a little bit, 00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:59.459 and you might become incredibly proud 00:21:59.459 --> 00:22:03.279 in all the ways you've been able to be generous. 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:06.139 And some of you would go out here 00:22:06.139 --> 00:22:07.339 and you wouldn't be able to do it, 00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:09.119 and you'd be crushed 00:22:09.119 --> 00:22:12.299 because you wouldn't be able to meet 00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:14.240 this great expectation, 00:22:14.420 --> 00:22:16.180 this thing that God is telling us 00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:18.139 about generosity to people who are on the margins. 00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:21.480 So what do we do with that? 00:22:24.819 --> 00:22:26.180 Why was Boaz, 00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:29.099 of all the men in Israel, 00:22:29.099 --> 00:22:32.139 why was Boaz the one 00:22:32.139 --> 00:22:33.980 that showed generosity to Ruth and Naomi? 00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:38.279 Do you think he just happened to be 00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:39.679 a worthy man, 00:22:39.719 --> 00:22:41.599 as we found out in chapter 2, verse 1? 00:22:43.219 --> 00:22:45.279 Why was it Boaz and not someone else? 00:22:48.879 --> 00:22:51.459 Do you know who Boaz's mom was? 00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:57.919 Boaz's mom 00:22:57.920 --> 00:22:59.740 was Rahab. 00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:03.100 Rahab, 00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:05.420 if you remember from the story of Israel, 00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:07.060 was a prostitute, 00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:08.680 and she was a pagan. 00:23:09.900 --> 00:23:12.180 And she lived in the city of Jericho. 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:16.259 She was someone who was vulnerable 00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:18.080 and destitute. 00:23:19.080 --> 00:23:20.140 She was a foreigner. 00:23:21.539 --> 00:23:23.380 And when the spies came in 00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:25.039 to look into the promised land, 00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:26.799 they met Rahab 00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:28.039 in the city of Jericho. 00:23:28.599 --> 00:23:29.680 They made a deal with her. 00:23:30.619 --> 00:23:31.159 They said, 00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:33.099 if you'll betray the city of Jericho 00:23:33.099 --> 00:23:34.779 and leave it behind, 00:23:34.940 --> 00:23:36.339 you can come and be a foreigner 00:23:36.339 --> 00:23:38.240 who joins God's people. 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:42.460 And so Rahab 00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:43.639 is a scandalous 00:23:43.639 --> 00:23:45.920 prostitute 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:47.639 in a pagan city 00:23:47.640 --> 00:23:50.740 who comes 00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:53.200 and joins God's people. 00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:55.000 Who does that sound like? 00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:59.860 Ruth's not a scandalous woman, 00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:02.280 but she is a foreigner. 00:24:03.340 --> 00:24:05.440 She has come to join God's people. 00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:08.140 So Boaz 00:24:08.140 --> 00:24:09.059 is not just 00:24:09.059 --> 00:24:10.320 some rich man, 00:24:10.900 --> 00:24:13.820 but he's a rich man. 00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:15.100 If there's any man 00:24:15.100 --> 00:24:16.200 in all of Israel 00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:17.120 who's going to know 00:24:17.120 --> 00:24:17.600 anything, 00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:18.340 something 00:24:18.340 --> 00:24:19.820 about what it's like 00:24:19.820 --> 00:24:21.720 to be a foreign 00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:23.840 and helpless woman 00:24:23.840 --> 00:24:24.799 among God's people, 00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:27.299 it's probably Boaz. 00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:29.840 I don't know for sure, 00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:30.539 but I would imagine 00:24:30.539 --> 00:24:31.580 as Boaz grew up, 00:24:31.640 --> 00:24:32.100 his mother 00:24:32.100 --> 00:24:33.440 must have told him something 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:34.279 about her past 00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:34.899 and her history. 00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:37.740 Hopefully she shared 00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:38.700 some of her struggles 00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:40.099 joining God's people 00:24:40.099 --> 00:24:41.660 with her past 00:24:41.660 --> 00:24:42.579 in a different nation, 00:24:42.879 --> 00:24:43.379 a foreigner. 00:24:45.539 --> 00:24:47.000 And Boaz himself 00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:48.879 carries her blood. 00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:52.079 And so this isn't just 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:53.059 a rich man 00:24:53.059 --> 00:24:54.839 showing generosity. 00:24:56.460 --> 00:24:57.700 This is a foreigner 00:24:57.700 --> 00:25:00.339 helping a foreigner. 00:25:02.339 --> 00:25:03.599 And this is a man 00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:04.419 who knows 00:25:04.419 --> 00:25:06.519 from his mother 00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:07.919 that God 00:25:07.919 --> 00:25:09.599 is a God 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:10.240 with a heart 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:10.859 for the foreigner 00:25:10.859 --> 00:25:13.059 who welcomes 00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:13.740 foreigners 00:25:13.740 --> 00:25:14.599 into his people. 00:25:14.719 --> 00:25:15.199 He knows 00:25:15.199 --> 00:25:16.139 that this is a God 00:25:16.139 --> 00:25:17.619 of never stopping, 00:25:18.199 --> 00:25:19.259 never giving up, 00:25:19.879 --> 00:25:20.339 unending, 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:20.980 unbreaking, 00:25:21.159 --> 00:25:22.279 always and forever love. 00:25:25.399 --> 00:25:27.419 And so because Boaz 00:25:27.419 --> 00:25:31.219 knows he's a foreigner 00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:32.299 who's been brought in, 00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:35.819 I would imagine 00:25:35.819 --> 00:25:36.740 this is why 00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:38.000 he of all the men 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.480 in Israel 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:39.480 is the one 00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:39.920 who shows 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:40.640 this incredible 00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:41.600 generosity. 00:25:46.600 --> 00:25:48.440 And so how do we 00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:49.200 avoid 00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:51.680 being proud 00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:53.779 because we can 00:25:53.779 --> 00:25:54.600 show generosity 00:25:54.600 --> 00:25:56.259 or broken 00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:57.120 because we can't? 00:25:57.119 --> 00:26:00.319 what motivates us 00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:02.199 to show God's 00:26:02.199 --> 00:26:02.939 never stopping, 00:26:03.179 --> 00:26:04.039 never giving up, 00:26:04.379 --> 00:26:04.879 unbreaking, 00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:06.139 always and forever love? 00:26:06.140 --> 00:26:11.380 we have to understand 00:26:11.380 --> 00:26:13.680 when we understand 00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:14.340 that we 00:26:14.340 --> 00:26:15.240 are foreigners 00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:16.980 that have been 00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:17.640 brought in 00:26:17.640 --> 00:26:19.780 to God's family. 00:26:21.100 --> 00:26:22.060 And we 00:26:22.060 --> 00:26:22.759 are foreigners 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.259 that have been 00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:24.640 brought with a price. 00:26:26.340 --> 00:26:27.060 Imagine that 00:26:27.060 --> 00:26:27.840 not many of us 00:26:27.840 --> 00:26:28.660 here today 00:26:28.660 --> 00:26:29.220 are Jews, 00:26:29.360 --> 00:26:30.020 we're not part of 00:26:30.020 --> 00:26:32.040 some of us 00:26:32.040 --> 00:26:32.440 perhaps, 00:26:32.540 --> 00:26:33.140 but most of us 00:26:33.140 --> 00:26:33.400 not. 00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:35.140 we're not part 00:26:35.140 --> 00:26:35.640 of God's 00:26:35.640 --> 00:26:36.240 original people, 00:26:36.320 --> 00:26:36.660 we're not part 00:26:36.660 --> 00:26:37.440 of the nation 00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:37.920 of Israel. 00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:40.660 And yet part 00:26:40.660 --> 00:26:41.380 of God's plan 00:26:41.380 --> 00:26:41.880 was to bring 00:26:41.880 --> 00:26:42.980 us in as well. 00:26:45.360 --> 00:26:46.160 Not only that, 00:26:46.200 --> 00:26:46.660 but we're people 00:26:46.660 --> 00:26:47.440 who have been 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:48.400 redeemed 00:26:48.400 --> 00:26:48.780 and bought 00:26:48.780 --> 00:26:49.400 with a price. 00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:51.840 It cost 00:26:51.840 --> 00:26:52.620 God something. 00:26:53.180 --> 00:26:53.759 It's not just 00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.500 that we're foreigners 00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:55.140 who've been brought 00:26:55.140 --> 00:26:55.900 into a family. 00:26:56.620 --> 00:26:57.240 We got to see 00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:57.880 a beautiful picture 00:26:57.880 --> 00:26:58.580 of that today 00:26:58.580 --> 00:26:59.540 with Doug. 00:27:00.060 --> 00:27:00.880 But what's true 00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:01.200 of Doug 00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:01.840 is true of all 00:27:01.840 --> 00:27:02.100 of us 00:27:02.100 --> 00:27:02.519 who have joined 00:27:02.519 --> 00:27:03.040 this church. 00:27:03.400 --> 00:27:04.240 That we were 00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:05.000 not originally 00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:05.800 part of God's 00:27:05.800 --> 00:27:06.100 family, 00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:06.480 but that he's 00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:07.160 brought us in. 00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:09.860 And so when 00:27:09.860 --> 00:27:11.920 we understand 00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:12.960 that we are 00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:13.519 foreigners 00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:14.540 that God 00:27:14.540 --> 00:27:15.140 has redeemed, 00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:16.800 then 00:27:16.800 --> 00:27:18.540 we can show 00:27:18.540 --> 00:27:19.019 the kind of 00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:19.519 generosity 00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:20.160 that Boaz 00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:20.800 shows here, 00:27:21.040 --> 00:27:22.160 not with pride, 00:27:23.660 --> 00:27:24.560 not with being 00:27:24.560 --> 00:27:25.000 crushed, 00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:27.120 but because we 00:27:27.120 --> 00:27:27.620 know what it's 00:27:27.620 --> 00:27:27.920 like. 00:27:29.140 --> 00:27:29.940 And out of 00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:30.820 thankfulness 00:27:30.819 --> 00:27:32.279 joy and 00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:32.960 joy and 00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:33.379 gratitude 00:27:33.379 --> 00:27:33.819 for what 00:27:33.819 --> 00:27:34.379 God has 00:27:34.379 --> 00:27:34.779 done 00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:35.679 for us. 00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:38.019 There's one 00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:38.299 man who 00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:38.779 describes the 00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:39.319 gospel this 00:27:39.319 --> 00:27:39.500 way, 00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:39.899 that it's 00:27:39.899 --> 00:27:40.679 one beggar 00:27:40.679 --> 00:27:41.299 asking another 00:27:41.299 --> 00:27:42.059 beggar for 00:27:42.059 --> 00:27:42.379 bread. 00:27:44.119 --> 00:27:45.000 We can think 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.220 of our 00:27:45.220 --> 00:27:45.839 generosity in 00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:46.119 this way, 00:27:46.159 --> 00:27:46.559 it's one 00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:47.059 foreigner 00:27:47.059 --> 00:27:48.980 giving another 00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:49.960 foreigner what 00:27:49.960 --> 00:27:50.439 they need. 00:27:51.939 --> 00:27:52.700 Because we've 00:27:52.700 --> 00:27:53.980 all been brought 00:27:53.980 --> 00:27:55.000 in to God's 00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:55.359 family. 00:27:56.099 --> 00:27:56.939 We all have, 00:27:57.079 --> 00:27:57.519 in a sense, 00:27:57.659 --> 00:27:58.439 Rahab as our 00:27:58.439 --> 00:27:58.720 mother. 00:27:58.720 --> 00:27:58.799 father. 00:28:01.880 --> 00:28:02.600 And so we 00:28:02.600 --> 00:28:02.940 can show 00:28:02.940 --> 00:28:04.480 mercy to 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:04.779 Ruth. 00:28:08.400 --> 00:28:09.059 I'll close 00:28:09.059 --> 00:28:09.360 with this, 00:28:09.420 --> 00:28:10.160 we sang about 00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:11.200 this just a 00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:11.700 little bit ago, 00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:12.100 and we sang 00:28:12.100 --> 00:28:12.420 grant, 00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:12.880 O Lord. 00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:14.660 Grant, O Lord, 00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:15.100 that we may 00:28:15.100 --> 00:28:15.519 hear your 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:16.279 people be a 00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:16.759 witness to 00:28:16.759 --> 00:28:17.700 your faithfulness, 00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:18.900 faithfulness that 00:28:18.900 --> 00:28:19.860 we've known and 00:28:19.860 --> 00:28:20.180 seen. 00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:22.940 Skip down to 00:28:22.940 --> 00:28:23.279 the third 00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:23.600 verse. 00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:24.460 Grant, O Lord, 00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:25.039 that we may ever 00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:25.980 faithful be to 00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:26.880 you whose gift 00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:27.799 to us is life, 00:28:27.799 --> 00:28:29.180 and in whose 00:28:29.180 --> 00:28:30.099 service we are 00:28:30.099 --> 00:28:30.460 free. 00:28:31.879 --> 00:28:32.559 It's when we 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:34.759 understand that 00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:35.700 we are free in 00:28:35.700 --> 00:28:36.299 the service of 00:28:36.299 --> 00:28:37.839 God, and that 00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:38.879 his gift to us 00:28:38.879 --> 00:28:40.099 is life, that 00:28:40.099 --> 00:28:40.579 we can be 00:28:40.579 --> 00:28:41.579 faithful to 00:28:41.579 --> 00:28:41.879 him. 00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:43.799 It's when we 00:28:43.799 --> 00:28:44.519 understand that 00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:45.119 we are foreigners, 00:28:46.259 --> 00:28:47.519 that Jesus, in 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:48.220 Hebrews 2, we 00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:48.919 find out he calls 00:28:48.919 --> 00:28:49.500 us his brothers. 00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:51.559 In Romans 6, we 00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:52.139 find out that we're 00:28:52.139 --> 00:28:52.919 free from the 00:28:52.919 --> 00:28:54.059 slavery of sin. 00:28:54.059 --> 00:28:57.480 And so we can 00:28:57.480 --> 00:28:58.339 go on God's 00:28:58.339 --> 00:29:01.799 mission of 00:29:01.799 --> 00:29:03.659 generosity, because 00:29:03.659 --> 00:29:04.500 he has brought 00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:05.799 us in as 00:29:05.799 --> 00:29:06.919 foreigners and 00:29:06.919 --> 00:29:07.460 his family. 00:29:08.599 --> 00:29:09.419 Please pray with 00:29:09.419 --> 00:29:09.619 me. 00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:12.159 Dear Father in 00:29:12.159 --> 00:29:12.899 heaven, we thank 00:29:12.899 --> 00:29:14.159 you for your 00:29:14.159 --> 00:29:15.440 great provision in 00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:18.700 Christ, that he 00:29:18.700 --> 00:29:19.379 as your first 00:29:19.379 --> 00:29:20.179 born son was 00:29:20.179 --> 00:29:20.919 willing to bring 00:29:20.919 --> 00:29:22.599 us in, that you 00:29:22.599 --> 00:29:24.899 adopted us, even 00:29:24.899 --> 00:29:25.459 though we were 00:29:25.459 --> 00:29:26.439 foreigners from 00:29:26.439 --> 00:29:26.699 you. 00:29:27.659 --> 00:29:28.299 You tell us in 00:29:28.299 --> 00:29:28.839 Romans that it's 00:29:28.839 --> 00:29:29.259 while we were 00:29:29.259 --> 00:29:30.179 still sinners that 00:29:30.179 --> 00:29:30.899 Christ died for 00:29:30.899 --> 00:29:32.179 us, not when we 00:29:32.179 --> 00:29:32.679 were part of the 00:29:32.679 --> 00:29:34.199 family, but that 00:29:34.199 --> 00:29:35.079 because he died, he 00:29:35.079 --> 00:29:35.639 brought us in. 00:29:36.439 --> 00:29:37.059 We ask that you 00:29:37.059 --> 00:29:37.639 would move in our 00:29:37.639 --> 00:29:38.179 hearts that we 00:29:38.179 --> 00:29:38.839 would not become 00:29:38.839 --> 00:29:40.679 proud or crushed, 00:29:41.240 --> 00:29:42.619 but we would be 00:29:42.619 --> 00:29:43.839 confident in your 00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:45.759 love for us, humble 00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:47.659 in your grace, and 00:29:47.659 --> 00:29:48.559 motivated by that 00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:49.339 towards generosity 00:29:49.339 --> 00:29:50.559 towards each other, 00:29:50.559 --> 00:29:52.539 because you have 00:29:52.539 --> 00:29:53.119 been generous 00:29:53.119 --> 00:29:53.899 towards us. 00:29:54.659 --> 00:29:55.519 We ask all these 00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:56.460 things in the name 00:29:56.460 --> 00:29:56.980 of your son. 00:29:57.720 --> 00:29:57.960 Amen. 00:29:57.960 --> 00:29:58.079 Amen. 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:00.460 Please pray with 00:30:00.460 --> 00:30:00.519 you. 00:30:00.519 --> 00:30:00.559 Amen. 00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:00.639 Amen. 00:30:00.639 --> 00:30:00.700 Amen. 00:30:00.700 --> 00:30:00.740 Amen. 00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:00.779 Amen. 00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:00.839 Amen. 00:30:00.839 --> 00:30:00.899 Amen. 00:30:00.899 --> 00:30:00.960 Amen. 00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:01.000 Amen. 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:01.059 Amen. 00:30:01.059 --> 00:30:01.079 Amen. 00:30:01.079 --> 00:30:01.139 Amen. 00:30:01.139 --> 00:30:01.179 Amen. 00:30:01.179 --> 00:30:01.240 Amen.