Grow. Pray. Study. Daily Devotion Guide from Sunday, 28 May 2017 through Saturday, 3 June 2017 from The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States
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May 28, 2017 The Birds and the Bees “Marriage Enrichment” Scripture: Romans 12:9 Don’t let love be a mere outward show. Recoil from what is evil, and cling to what is good. 10 Love each other devotedly and with brotherly love; and set examples for each other in showing respect. 11 Don’t be lazy when hard work is needed, but serve the Lord with spiritual fervor. 12 Rejoice in your hope, be patient in your troubles, and continue steadfastly in prayer. 13 Share what you have with God’s people, and practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you — bless them, don’t curse them! 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be sensitive to each other’s needs — don’t think yourselves better than others, but make humble people your friends. Don’t be conceited. -------
Prayer Tip: Marriage Enrichment
14 Bless those who persecute you — bless them, don’t curse them! 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be sensitive to each other’s needs — don’t think yourselves better than others, but make humble people your friends. Don’t be conceited. -------
Prayer Tip: Marriage Enrichment
Daily Scripture: Romans 12:9 Don’t let love be a mere outward show. Recoil from what is evil, and cling to what is good. 10 Love each other devotedly and with brotherly love; and set examples for each other in showing respect. 11 Don’t be lazy when hard work is needed, but serve the Lord with spiritual fervor. 12 Rejoice in your hope, be patient in your troubles, and continue steadfastly in prayer. 13 Share what you have with God’s people, and practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you — bless them, don’t curse them! 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be sensitive to each other’s needs — don’t think yourselves better than others, but make humble people your friends. Don’t be conceited.
-------14 Bless those who persecute you — bless them, don’t curse them! 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be sensitive to each other’s needs — don’t think yourselves better than others, but make humble people your friends. Don’t be conceited.
Prayer Tip:
Angela LaVallie Tinsley
Angela serves as the Funeral and Prayer Program Director, overseeing on-site funerals and assisting with prayer classes, vigils, walk, retreats, and other events. She began working at Resurrection in April 2007 and in that time has worked with the Singles, Seniors, Young Adults, and Guest Connections ministries.
Although I often use the ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) model for prayer, I tend to focus most of my time in supplication. I pray about problems, mine or others’: stress, illness, grief, relationship struggles, spiritual distress, etc. The recent sermon series on relationships has got me thinking, though, that prayer when there aren’t problems is just as important. Maybe the prayer will help prevent problems; maybe it will make dealing with the problems more bearable if they do occur.
A church I attended years ago held a prayer campaign that challenged us to choose three people to pray for daily for thirty days. The goal wasn’t to choose people with major issues in their life, but to pray for their general well-being in different aspects of their lives. I remember that thirty days being very impactful. I prayed for a neighbor, one of my professors, and a family member. As far as I know, things were going fairly well for all three of them, so I prayed for their continued health, for their families, for relationships in their lives, for peace, enjoyment, spiritual guidance and more.
Everyone needs prayer, not just those who ask for it or are struggling. I challenge you to choose just one person to pray for every day this week. It could be a family member, a friend, a co-worker, a neighbor, the barista at your favorite coffee shop, someone who works at your gym, a classmate….
Lord God,
1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to “pray continually.” Sometimes we forget to pray when there doesn’t seem to be an apparent need to pray. Help us to find reasons to pray in these times. Help us to remember that prayer isn’t about the words we say, but about connecting with you and learning to love others.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.[Angela LaVallie Tinsley, Prayer and Funeral Ministries]
-------Angela serves as the Funeral and Prayer Program Director, overseeing on-site funerals and assisting with prayer classes, vigils, walk, retreats, and other events. She began working at Resurrection in April 2007 and in that time has worked with the Singles, Seniors, Young Adults, and Guest Connections ministries.
Although I often use the ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) model for prayer, I tend to focus most of my time in supplication. I pray about problems, mine or others’: stress, illness, grief, relationship struggles, spiritual distress, etc. The recent sermon series on relationships has got me thinking, though, that prayer when there aren’t problems is just as important. Maybe the prayer will help prevent problems; maybe it will make dealing with the problems more bearable if they do occur.
A church I attended years ago held a prayer campaign that challenged us to choose three people to pray for daily for thirty days. The goal wasn’t to choose people with major issues in their life, but to pray for their general well-being in different aspects of their lives. I remember that thirty days being very impactful. I prayed for a neighbor, one of my professors, and a family member. As far as I know, things were going fairly well for all three of them, so I prayed for their continued health, for their families, for relationships in their lives, for peace, enjoyment, spiritual guidance and more.
Everyone needs prayer, not just those who ask for it or are struggling. I challenge you to choose just one person to pray for every day this week. It could be a family member, a friend, a co-worker, a neighbor, the barista at your favorite coffee shop, someone who works at your gym, a classmate….
Lord God,
1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to “pray continually.” Sometimes we forget to pray when there doesn’t seem to be an apparent need to pray. Help us to find reasons to pray in these times. Help us to remember that prayer isn’t about the words we say, but about connecting with you and learning to love others.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.[Angela LaVallie Tinsley, Prayer and Funeral Ministries]
"Building relationships on a strong foundation"
Monday, 29 2017
Matthew 7:24 “So, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on bedrock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers flooded, the winds blew and beat against that house, but it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, the rivers flooded, the wind blew and beat against that house, and it collapsed — and its collapse was horrendous!”
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Jesus wrapped up his Sermon on the Mount with this image of two builders. They both built houses during the dry season, when the wadis of Palestine, like arroyos in the American Southwest, looked safe and harmless. When the storms came, they washed the house built on sand away. The wise person thought ahead, and built a house on a foundation that would endure.
• Some marriages (or other relationships) look fine. Then something (illness, job loss, a poor choice) shakes the foundation, and shatters the relationship, at times beyond repair. Whether you’re married, dating or single, it will rain in your life sooner or later. What are you doing daily to grow the solid character you need to weather life’s storms?
• “Some other Jewish teachers told a similar parable, with a major difference: In their story, the foundational rock in their parables was the Torah, God’s law (Abot de Rabbi Nathan 24A). Here Jesus’ teaching holds the same role as God’s message in the traditional parable.” * Jesus implicitly made his teaching central to knowing God (teaching “with authority”—Matthew 7:29). How did that reshape how his followers read portions of the Bible that did not align with Jesus’ teaching about God’s character?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me durably, dependably, forever. Guide me in building my life on the principles of your kingdom, so that my life and relationships can withstand any earthly storm. Amen.
* HarperCollins Christian Publishing. NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, eBook: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture (Kindle Locations 219378-219380). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
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Ginny HowellGinny Howell serves as the Mobilization Program Director at the Leawood Campus. She has a passion for helping people get engaged in the life of the church, and oversees Community Events, Member Engagement and our ReConnection Team.
When given the choice, we all want to be the wise man. Nobody wants to be the fool. We never set out to be, anyway; but at times we have all walked in those shoes. We end up there when the rains fall and the floods come. Health issues, financial problems or unemployment--whatever it is, we get knocked off course. I know at times in my life, I have chosen the path of “everything’s fine” during tough times when I really should have stepped into wiser shoes. Wiser shoes might have required I engage in tougher conversations, been more vulnerable to share with others what I was going through or maybe even said something that I knew might hurt someone’s feelings.
As Pastors Scott and Wendy preached in the message on Sunday, love is genuine; not playing a part or wearing the face of “everything’s fine.” To live and engage in loving others as God has called us to do, we must strive to live vulnerably and authentically. To do this is to put on the wise shoes, to build your house on the bedrock.
The relationships that come when you are willing to stand in the wise shoes on the bedrock are richer and withstand all of life’s storms. They make it through the “I’m not fine” moments, and are stronger and better because of them.
This passage is a great reminder that when I feel myself getting off track, I need to get back to hearing the words of Jesus and putting them into practice. Whether that is in my marriage, with my kids or chatting with the cashier in the check-out line at Target, it is my sincere desire to treat others the way Jesus treated people, but I don’t always hit the mark. As a busy mom of three with a job I love here at the church, too often I don’t make time for my own spiritual growth. When I do, I always feel more grounded in the guiding principles that keep my feet planted in those wise shoes.
Scott and Wendy also preached that “love is a commitment to repetitive actions.” This passage helped me recognize that I need to be more intentional about the repetitive action of reading my Bible and engaging in devotional time to stay centered in Christ. I have scheduled time in my calendar for devotion for the next 30 days to see if I can create a routine that will help me be more consistent in this activity.
How are you making a commitment to repetitive actions that connect you with God and build loving relationships in your life? Want to join me in some devotional time over the next 30 days? Send me an email at ginny.howell@cor.org and we can grab a cup of coffee and talk about Jesus.
"Judgment and contempt: guaranteed relationship destroyers"
Tuesday, 30 May 2017
Matthew 7:1 “Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. 2 For the way you judge others is how you will be judged — the measure with which you measure out will be used to measure to you. 3 Why do you see the splinter in your brother’s eye but not notice the log in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye,’ when you have the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite! First, take the log out of your own eye; then you will see clearly, so that you can remove the splinter from your brother’s eye!
6 “Don’t give to dogs what is holy, and don’t throw your pearls to the pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, then turn and attack you.-------
Jesus clearly spoke to our religious thoughts and acts (see Pastor Hamilton’s When Christians Get It Wrong for a fuller study). But if one person regularly judges another as “inferior” or “wrong,” that hurts friendships. So how much more damage can that do to closer relationships? It is healing to address why we feel a need to criticize and judge, and “First take the log out of your eye”! (Verse 6 made it clear that Jesus was not calling anyone to be a naïve victim in a negative relationship.)
• It’s not what you have in common with your mate, date or friends that causes conflict. It’s the differences. What differences particularly “get your goat”? Do you have a balanced view of the other person, seeing their strengths as well as flaws? If you’ve fallen into what many counselors call “negative focus” (only seeing the flaws), what steps can you take to get the relationship back on track?
• Jesus used a hyperbolic image (the log in your eye) to remind his hearers that “we all have faults, and so we all need mercy. Recognizing our own failings makes us more forgiving toward others.” * How can honest self-evaluation, and openness to hearing what bothers your partner or friend, help build relationships that make both of you stronger, rather than tearing each other down?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, keep me healthily aware of my strengths while still being able to “take the log out of [my] eye” before trying to correct or “improve” my partner and friends. Amen.
* Eugene Eung-Chun Park and Joel B. Green, study note on Matthew 7:3-5 in The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013, p. 17 NT.
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Randy GreeneRandy Greene is a part of the Communications team at the Church of the Resurrection. He helps develop and maintain the church's family of websites. He is also a student at Central Baptist Theological Seminary and loves to write stories about faith for his blog.
Sometimes the people I am closest to are the hardest ones for me to grant grace.
I think I’m generally a pretty patient, gracious person, and I try to give people the benefit of the doubt most of the time. If someone cuts me off in traffic, I often tell myself that maybe they’re on the way to the hospital because their spouse just had a medical emergency. Or if someone doesn’t get their work to me on time, I try to assume that it’s probably been a stressful week and they’re trying really hard to get everything done.
But for some reason, when it’s a close friend or relative, I find it far more difficult to grant them those same courtesies. My wife can do the littlest thing and it will make me angry. I know the amount of stress she’s under at work right now, and I know that she’s not likely to have casually forgotten feed the dog, but it sets off a trigger for me that I cannot explain.
I set an unfair standard of perfection for her and for my other close friends and relatives - a standard that even I myself could never live up to - and then I hold it against them when they don’t measure up. But Matthew tells us we are not the ones who set the standard, nor are we the judges of humanity. That bar has been set and met by the grace of God alone. This is an encouragement for me to extend that same understanding of grace to the people around me, whether it’s a random stranger on the roads or my wife or my parents.
The grace of God allows me to see others and myself as we truly are: not as absolutely, irreparably broken individuals, but also not as super-humans who can do no wrong. It gives me room to see us all as human, with all of its benefits and deficiencies, with all of its complexities and quirks, and with all of its heart and passion. We are as God created us, and God’s grace covers us in love.
"Dealing honestly (and healingly) with anger"
Wednesday, 31 May 2017
Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, stripping off falsehood, let everyone speak truth with his neighbor,[Ephesians 4:25 Zechariah 8:16][a] because we are intimately related to each other as parts of a body. 26 Be angry, but don’t sin[Ephesians 4:26 Psalm 4:5(4), Hebrews 12:12-15] — don’t let the sun go down before you have dealt with the cause of your anger;
27 otherwise you leave room for the Adversary.,
Hebrews 12:12 So,
13 and
make a level path for your feet;[Hebrews 12:13 Proverbs 4:26]
so that what has been injured will not get wrenched out of joint but rather will be healed.
14 Keep pursuing shalom with everyone and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one misses out on God’s grace, that no root of bitterness[Hebrews 12:15 Deuteronomy 29:17(18)] springing up causes trouble and thus contaminates many, -------The apostle Paul quoted Psalm 4:4 from the Greek translation of the Old Testament (called the Septuagint). Then, as though he realized that “be angry without sinning” might be a little hard to apply in real life (“How do I do that?”), he added his timeless personal advice: “Don’t let the sun set on your anger.” The Message put it in more modern English: “Don’t go to bed angry.”
• Anger is one of four basic human emotions. Ephesians linked teaching about honesty with its call to “be angry without sinning.” If we haven’t learned to deal with angry feelings honestly within ourselves, we often try to hide them (“grrr—no, I’m not angry”). When have you seen a failure to honestly face anger be harmful to a relationship? How do you see the difference between “I feel angry because…” and “You always make me mad by…”?
• Anger becomes dangerous, to us and our relationships, when we let it fester. Hebrews warned readers to see “that no root of bitterness grows up.” One counselor said, “Bitterness is anger grown stale.” Ephesians 4 knew that “anger is natural… because people hurt each other in various ways…. Paul wants them to deal with it right away so that no one sins against another by feeding on that anger and doing further damage.” * What is helping you grow in recognizing your anger, and then promptly dealing positively with it?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, anger, in me or in others, can be scary. Give me the courage to recognize and deal with it in a healing way whenever it happens. Amen.
* Timothy Gombis, study note on Ephesians 4:26 in The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013, p. 369 NT.
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Kari BurgessKari's responsibilities on the ShareChurch team include marketing, guest registration and service, and coordinating hospitality volunteers for the conferences we host at Resurrection.
She enjoys running and hiking and loves being a cheerleader for her girls at all of their sporting, music and school events.
She considers it a joy to serve in ministry at Resurrection, using her gifts and skills gained in the corporate world toward the purpose of renewing God's church.
Several years ago, I ended up with a painful back injury caused by running in old, broken down shoes. As a runner, I knew all too well the standard recommendation for replacing running shoes is every 500 miles. I knew my shoes were older than that. But dropping $100 on a new pair didn’t seem to fit the budget at the time. I was busy and besides, they looked OK. The tread wasn’t worn down much, there were no visible holes and, due to much of my running being on a treadmill at the time, they weren’t even dirty. Believe me when I say I learned the hard way not to trust how shoes look on the outside to determine when they need to be replaced.
After trying to keep up on a 6-mile training run with a group of runners much faster than me, I ended up in debilitating pain. When I finally decided to see a chiropractor, he informed me my right leg was a half inch shorter than my left leg, due to the sacroiliac joint (connecting the spine and pelvis) being compressed. After telling him my sob story of pain, he concluded the old shoes were likely the culprit. It took several months of therapy (which eventually included acupuncture) to correct the problem and fully make the pain go away. I am now armed with a set of stretches I do regularly to help keep this joint loose and healthy. I am officially the “shoe police” with my running friends, dragging them to the running store for new shoes when needed. If I stretch regularly and replace my shoes every 500 miles, I feel good. But when I get lazy on the stretches, I can start to feel that joint tightening up again. (Pardon me while I take a writing break to stretch.)
Hebrews 12:13 reminds us to “Make straight paths for your feet so that if any part is lame, it will be healed rather than injured more seriously.” The writer in Hebrews is urging us to notice and act on things in our life which need to be strengthened or repaired. Whether something you need to work on for yourself, or part of a relationship with a spouse, partner or friend, we are called to strengthen or repair these things in our life so we are not injured more seriously.
Many of us tend to ignore our shortcomings or to ignore relationship issues. If we ignore what is not working, what is frustrating us, what is making us angry in our relationships, it will only break down the relationship further and cause us pain. If we tend to our relationships by replacing equipment regularly (okay, don’t take that metaphor too far!) and stretching and strengthening the muscles supporting our weak spots, we can live in and enjoy more healthy relationships. We can keep the “root of bitterness” from welling up in us.
It is important to be able to recognize points of tension and things which trigger old hurts or anger in our relationships, and work out healthy ways to address them with our partners. How about using Scott and Wendy Chrostek’s ground rules for arguments from their sermon this weekend? They are:
1. Remember, you’re on the same team.
2. Words Matter.
3. “We” means three.
2. Words Matter.
3. “We” means three.
Look, I’m not the best at the whole “don’t-go-to-bed angry” thing. I can let a hurt or frustration fester and get out of hand before I address it. I am a conflict-avoider for sure. But daily, I am working on making straight paths for my feet to keep my relationships healthy.
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Thursday, 1 June 2017
Ephesians 4:29 Let no harmful language come from your mouth, only good words that are helpful in meeting the need, words that will benefit those who hear them. 30 Don’t cause grief to God’s Ruach HaKodesh, for he has stamped you as his property until the day of final redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, violent assertiveness and slander, along with all spitefulness. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted; and forgive each other, just as in the Messiah God has also forgiven you.
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This passage listed keys that can move God’s people toward being better partners in relationships. Treating one another in un-Christlike ways (“bitterness, losing your temper, anger, shouting, and slander, along with every other evil”) is bad for relationships. Inviting Christ to change your life from the inside out opens you to bearing fruits like kindness, compassion and a heart able to forgive. God’s gift of such qualities empowers us to build durable relationships.
• Scholar N. T. Wright said, “You should behave as those on whom God’s Holy Spirit has placed God’s mark. The word Paul uses could refer to the ‘seal’ or official stamp on a document…. The mark indicates who it belongs to and what it’s for…. People who are enslaved to anger and malice may think they are ‘free’ to ‘be themselves’, but they are in bondage. If we are marked out by the Spirit’s personal presence living in us, think how sad it makes that Spirit if we behave in ways which don’t reflect the life and love of God.” * How would your interactions be different if, before speaking or texting, you asked, “Does this give grace? Does it build up? Can I picture Jesus saying or sending this?”
Prayer: Dear God, give me the courage to speak truth in love, the humility to say I’m sorry when I’m wrong and the heart to forgive others who admit a wrong. Amen.
* N. T. Wright, Paul for Everyone: The Prison Letters (Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p. 56)
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Angie Colina McNeilAngie serves as a Pastoral Intern in Congregational Care. Her days consist of visiting hospitalized individuals, caring for Silver Link Ministry members and assisting during the 11 am worship service. She is currently attending seminary at Saint Paul School of Theology, but her main roles are wife to an amazingly supportive husband, Toph, and mom to the sweetest little girl on the planet!
This August, my husband and I will celebrate five years of marriage. When we “tied the knot,” we were both in our thirties and had spent a significant amount of time alone developing habits that worked for our individual lives. Sharing and collaborating define the past five years of our lives together. We love each other immensely, but sometimes that love is tested when our individuality asserts itself. Our conversations, as well as our disagreements, are passionate because we both know that our tastes, opinions, and routines are correct.
For example, I know that creamy peanut butter is far superior to crunchy. However, my husband believes the opposite. In fact, he claims that extra-crunchy is the only way to eat it. I make grocery lists, and he just goes to the grocery store. Of course, I know that I am correct in all things because right now we have two large jars of creamy peanut butter next to a jar of extra-crunchy. My first instinct when I realized this had happened was that he didn’t check the grocery list on the refrigerator. He would have noticed that peanut butter was off the board. In the past (in fact just leading up to a few weeks before this sermon series), the extra peanut butter would have set me off. I would have accused my husband of not paying attention, or of being self-absorbed because he thinks his way is the only way. Now we have a wonderful reminder that creamy peanut butter always wins! (Upon inspection, though, I realized I had not erased it from the grocery list. I was glad I didn’t confront him!) Maybe in this instance, crunchy wins.
However, a committed lifetime relationship is not about winning. The Apostle Paul tells the Church in Ephesus, “Don’t let any foul words come out of your mouth. Only say what is helpful when it is needed for building up the community so that it benefits those who hear what you say.” There are times in our relationship that foul words have escaped my mouth out of anger when he didn’t live up to my “non-communicated” expectations. Many times my words have been neither loving nor helpful. They have been instigated by my incessant need to be right. They have caused the foundation of our relationship to crack and crumble from time to time. Rebuilding on a fractured foundation can be tough work, but it is possible.
God’s grace affords ample opportunities for the foundations of our relationships to be repaired and redeemed. We have been sealed by the Holy Spirit for the day of redemption. This isn’t a once-in-a-lifetime-when-you-go-to-heaven kind of thing–-redemption starts now. Each second, minute, hour, and day we are given chance-upon-chance to be renewed in the redemptive grace of God. We are given the opportunity to build our relationships through kindness, compassion, and forgiveness-–in the same way that we have been given through Jesus Christ. Christ is the mortar that builds and repairs the foundations on which relationships are built. It’s almost like the peanut butter, creamy or crunchy, that holds two slices of bread together, but infinitely more durable.
I hope your lunch today consists of a PB&J, or honey, or bananas… or maybe even bacon!
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"God’s barrier-busting love, preparing the way for Jesus" Friday, 2 Jun3 2017
Ruth 4:1 Meanwhile, Bo‘az had gone up to the gate and had sat down there, when the redeemer of whom Bo‘az had spoken passed by. “Such-and-such,” he said, “come over, and sit down”; so he came over and sat down. 2 He took ten of the city’s leaders and said, “Sit down here”; and they sat down. 3 Then he said to the redeeming kinsman, “The parcel of land which used to belong to our relative Elimelekh is being offered for sale by Na‘omi, who has returned from the plain of Mo’av. 4 I thought I should tell you about it and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of the people sitting here and in the presence of the leaders of my people. If you want to redeem it, redeem it. But if it is not to be redeemed, then tell me, so that I can know, because there is no one else in line to redeem it, and I’m after you.” He said, “I want to redeem it.” 5 Then Bo‘az said, “The same day you buy the field from Na‘omi, you must also buy Rut the woman from Mo’av, the wife of the deceased [son], in order to raise up in the name of the deceased an heir for his property.” 6 The redeemer said, “Then I can’t redeem it for myself, because I might put my own inheritance at risk. You, take my right of redemption on yourself; because I can’t redeem it.”
7 In the past, this is what was done in Isra’el to validate all transactions involving redemption and exchange: a man took off his shoe and gave it to the other party; this was the form of attestation in Isra’el. 8 So the redeemer said to Bo‘az, “Buy it for yourself,” and took off his shoe. 9 Bo‘az addressed the leaders and all the people: “You are witnesses today that I am purchasing from Na‘omi all that belonged to Elimelekh and all that belonged to Kilyon and Machlon. 10 Also I am acquiring as my wife Rut the woman from Mo’av, the wife of Machlon, in order to raise up in the name of the deceased an heir for his property; so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his kinsmen and from the gate of his place. You are witnesses today.” 11 All the people at the gate and the leaders said, “We are witnesses. May Adonai make the woman who has come into your house like Rachel and like Le’ah, who between them built up the house of Isra’el. Do worthy deeds in Efrat; become renowned in Beit-Lechem. 12 May your house, because of the seed Adonai will give you from this young woman, become like the house of Peretz, whom Tamar bore to Y’hudah.”
13 So Bo‘az took Rut, and she became his wife. He had sexual relations with her, Adonai enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 Then the women said to Na‘omi, “Blessed be Adonai, who today has provided you a redeemer! May his name be renowned in Isra’el. 15 May he restore your life and provide for your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 16 Na‘omi took the child, laid it on her breast and became its nurse. 17 The women who were her neighbors gave it a name; they said, “A son has been born to Na‘omi,” and called it ‘Oved. He was the father of Yishai the father of David., Matthew 1:5 Salmon was the father of Bo‘az (his mother was Rachav),Bo‘az was the father of ‘Oved (his mother was Rut),
‘Oved was the father of Yishai -------
Ruth and Boaz, once they found each other, loved for a lifetime. Their Old Testament story and Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus pointed to their lifelong connection by tracing their descendants back to both of them. Boaz’s legal and financial dealings to become Ruth’s husband may seem confusing to us, and not very “romantic.” But taken on its own terms, the story’s tale of early attraction and lifelong loyalty matched any we could tell today. (If you can, take time to read all four chapters of this ancient love story.)
• Even without understanding all the customs of their time, we can see that Boaz took risks and worked diligently to gain the right to marry Ruth. Her interest in him delighted him (see Ruth 3:10-13). When have you seen a well-thought-through decision to marry create the conditions for a lifelong love?
• The book of Ruth wasn’t just a simple love story, however. Deuteronomy 23:3-4 said no Moabite could belong to the Lord’s assembly. Yet this little book told its Israelite audience that no less a figure than David, Israel’s greatest king, descended from a Moabite woman. How did Boaz and Rachel’s marriage give Israel insight into their God’s far-reaching, barrier-breaking love?
Prayer: Lord God, you worked through the life-long love of even unlikely couples like Ruth and Boaz to sustain and nurture the human family into which Jesus was born. Please work through me to break down barriers and nurture love in your world. Amen.
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Darren LippeDarren Lippe helps facilitate Journey 101 “Loving God” classes, guides a 7th-grade Sunday school class, is a member of a small group and a men’s group, and serves on the curriculum team.Getting ready for the upcoming Church of the Resurrection Rummage Sale (Discardable Odds/Ends dropped off July 9-10-11 / Treasures available for purchase on July 14-15!), I came across an old box from childhood labeled “Darren’s Memorybilia.” (All is now clear – Editor.) Looking through the box I re-discovered my Retirement Portfolio – aka, old comic books, which, after a cursory glance at eBay will still be able to fund my golden days - assuming my retirement doesn’t extend beyond a movie matinee & the early-bird dinner at Denny’s.
Also, in the box was my Smokey the Bear Set, including a Smokey the Bear hat, cardboard Park Ranger Office, & Park Ranger/Smokey the Bear action figures. It was humorous to explain to our sons that with only 6 Proof-of-Purchase box tops of Super Sugar Crisp Cereal + $9.99 for shipping & handling, I’d be able to enjoy this set in just 4-6 weeks. Living in their era of online purchases & 2-day shipping, this whole redemption process seems rather convoluted.
Of course, that redemption process pales in comparison to today’s reading from Ruth. I love this passage because the author goes to great lengths to give us a detailed glimpse of his world & times. Let’s take a look.
In chapter 3, Boaz agrees to be Ruth’s “Kinsman Redeemer.” (The purpose of this “Kinsman Redeemer” tradition/law was to help ensure that the deceased’s family name did not die with him, that his property would remain within his tribe or clan, & help hinder the exploitation of poor people by the wealthy/powerful.) But Boaz recognizes a potential hiccup in their plans - he was not the closest living relative & thus was barred from being Ruth’s redeemer. So early the next morning, Boaz goes to the open square at the city gate where much of the town’s business & legal issues would be resolved to try to work out a solution.
We then learn that Naomi had some land. However, widows were not entitled to any inheritance, & being poor, she could not redeem the property. The unknown relative is eager to acquire this land to keep it in the family. But Boaz says, “Easy, Big Fella.” (Or words to that effect.) Boaz then tells our unknown friend about Ruth. The deceased had a right to an heir and Ruth, his daughter-in-law, was still living. Thus, the man who bought the field had the duty of raising an heir on behalf of the deceased husband. If a son were born, then the estate would revert to the son. So the relative quickly concludes that he would have to care for another family & his estate could be impacted. Our friendly relative then says, “Whoa, look at the time.” (Or words to that effect.)
The scene concludes with the ancient custom of the “Sign of the Sandal/Shoe” in front of the city elders. Some scholars suggest that the sandal would indicate that only the owner had the right to walk on the land & thus the passing of the sandal would indicate the transfer of the property to a new owner.
So what might this mean for us today? If God, in His wisdom, went to such lengths to protect just the financially weak/vulnerable via an elaborate plan of redemption, just imagine what He would do to redeem our souls? Oh wait. We already know of His eternal act of redeeming love via His Son on the cross. Just when we think we’ve got a handle on God’s love, we quickly realize we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface.
Now boys, who’s up for a Grand Slam dinner? Oh, and Matthew, we’ll have to skip the movie--your SAT Prep book that we ordered yesterday is already here. Isn’t that great? What a time to be alive!
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"God calls us to live out God’s triumphant love"
Romans 8:35 Who will separate us from the love of the Messiah? Trouble? Hardship? Persecution? Hunger? Poverty? Danger? War? 36 As the Tanakh puts it,
“For your sake we are being put to death all day long,
we are considered sheep to be slaughtered.”[Romans 8:36 Psalm 44:23(22)]
we are considered sheep to be slaughtered.”[Romans 8:36 Psalm 44:23(22)]
37 No, in all these things we are superconquerors, through the one who has loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers, neither what exists nor what is coming, 39 neither powers above nor powers below, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which comes to us through the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord.
1 John 4:7 Beloved friends, let us love one another; because love is from God; and everyone who loves has God as his Father and knows God. 8 Those who do not love, do not know God; because God is love.
-------The apostle Paul sent the Romans quite a list of things that might separate them from God’s love: “trouble, or distress, or harassment, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword.” He’d faced all of those, but he wrote the list to say, “In all these things we win a sweeping victory through the one who loved us” (verse 37). That sweeping victory empowers us to love other people with the same tireless love which John said is God’s very essence.
• The Greek word translated “sweeping victory” was hupernikaō. “Huper” was a superlative, the origin of the English “hyper.” The “nik” in the middle of the word came from the Greek word for “victory,” a word we know better than we may realize—“nikē”! Paul asked two forceful questions: “If God is for us, who is against us?” and “Who will separate us from Christ’s love?” He phrased both in a way that assumed the answer was “Nobody and nothing!” Our relationships can be so grace-filled that they win a sweeping victory over all life challenges. Ask God to grow you into the kind of person capable of such relationships. If fitting, pray with your partner, asking God to fill your lives with God’s unconquerable love.
Prayer: All powerful God, whatever comes my way, hold me close in the shelter of your love. Thank you that, through you, I and those I love can win a sweeping victory in “all these things.” Amen.
Family Activity: Purchase some seeds of a favorite flower or plant that can grow indoors. Plant the seeds in a container and place it where your family can watch it grow. Read the directions about caring for the plant and follow them carefully. Celebrate the plant’s growth. As this all is going on, discuss how just as we need to be patient as the seeds grow, we need patience to grow as God’s children. Talk about the importance of listening to one another, sharing thoughts and feelings, having fun together and supporting and encouraging each other. As you have committed to helping the plant grow, also commit to helping your relationships grow. Celebrate your family and ask God to help you grow together.
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Carol CartmillCarol is the Executive Director of Mission and Outreach at Church of the Resurrection. She serves with and guides a gifted team of individuals as together they engage the congregation in serving, connecting and growing. She seeks to be used by God to help people on their journey to know, love and serve God and others.
I love the picture painted by our Scripture reading of the sweeping victory that both empowers us to love other people, and successfully navigate all of life’s challenges. God’s love holds that power, and it is power we can access throughout our lives.
Over the course of 32 years of marriage, Jim and I have shared great joys in life, and we have experienced pain and loss. Our relationship has been tested on several occasions. Honestly, there have been times when either one of us could have thrown in the towel in a season of frustration. We took seriously the call of God to love one another. Not always like, but love. This is not a “feeling,” but action and service that puts the needs of the other before our own. It’s selfless, hopeful, patient…and impossible at times.
Relationships are where we have the greatest opportunity to work out the reality of God’s love. Not just with our families and friends. With our neighbors, co-workers, and even people who follow rival sports teams or hold different political views. It starts when we recognize our own need of the grace that God so freely gifts to us.
How well does my life reflect God’s love? As I grow in assurance of the love of God, my capacity to love others grows. We often wonder why we don’t make progress on the problems and challenges we face in life. I believe the more we are able to work in relationship with others, built on a foundation of love and trust, the better our chances of achieving a sweeping victory. Let’s pray for God to fill our hearts anew with perfect love.
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Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer Prayers for Peace & Comfort for: • Evan Ridgway and family on the death of his mother Elna Ridgway, 5/21
• George Melling and family on the death of his aunt Marjorie Melling, 5/21
• Barbara McKee and family on the death of her husband William “Bill” McKee, 5/20
• Mark McKee and family on the death of his father William “Bill” McKee, 5/20
• Lisa Davidson and family on the death of her father Charles “Mac” McGranahan, 5/20
• Sheryl Gulley and family on the death of her father Bob Chaney, 5/20 • Paul Leahy and family on the death of his brother Scott Leahy, 5/17
• Scott Beadleston and family on the death of his father David Warriner, 5/17
• Jim Gould and family on the death of his brother Lee Gould, 5/14
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