[110904] Love That Changes Your Life (Ruth 3:1-18)

Love That Changes Your Life

Ruth 3:1-18

1. God’s blessing that Naomi realized

(1) Yourself (Ruth 1:19-21)

- Ruth 1:20 – “Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them, “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.”

- Ruth 1:21 – I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.

- Those whose lives don’t go well blame their lives on the other (Discover yourself correctly)

(2) Daughter in law Ruth (Ruth 2:1-23)

- Ruth 2:19-20 – “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 your kinsman-redeemers.”

(3) Boaz (Ruth 3:1-5)

- Naomi’s relative, he is one of our kinsman-redeemers

2. The love that fulfills inside of the covenant (Jesus Christ’s love)

(1) Kindness

- Ruth 3:10 – “The LORD bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.

(2) Discovered the noble character

- Ruth 3:11 – And now, my daughter don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character.

- A noble woman:

a. Fear God (Ruth1:17)

b. Don't follow the physical things (Ruth3:10)

c. Respect parents (Ruth3:5)

d. Admire others (Ruth 3:10)

e. Build a family (Prov.31:13-19)

f. Share the knowledge with others (Prov.31:26)

g. Get respect from the children (Prov.28-29)

(3) Discovered the woman who will build his family

- Ruth 3:13 – But if he is not willing, as surely as the LORD lives I will do it.

- With Christians’ kindness, wisdom, and building a family, we must love our church and congregation (God’s love)

3. Received the love that changes life.

(1) Change of identity

a. Gentile woman (from Moab) -> Woman of covenant (Israelite)

b. Servant (Woman who gleaned) -> Wife of a rich man (The blessing of child of God)

c. From the life of physical things, she received the blessing that will fulfill God’s will (Ruth 4:14)

d. Received the glory of being an ancestor of Christ (Ruth 4:22)

Conclusion

- We must discover God’s plan

1. Why is my family so happy? -> For evangelism and mission
2. Why my family have difficulties? -> For evangelism and mission

- Where do the hardships, curse, and sufferings come from?

(1) Gen 1:2 – Chaos, emptiness, and darkness

(2) Gen 3:1-6 – From the original sin

(3) Gen 4 – The life of Cain (He didn’t have the blessing of worship)

(4) Gen 6 – The age of Nephrim (Idol and self-centered life)

(5) Gen 11 – The culture of the tower Babel

->    Christ came to the earth as all problem solver, Jesus