One of the ways that we will keep our faith is by understanding who we are, and who's we are, and then loving each other, no matter what.

This has been modeled for us by Jesus. He doesn't only love us, while we are acting as we should. But his love for us extends grace upon grace. His love for us that is patient while we're struggling, and when we don't get things right, right away. And because of his love for us, one of the ways that we keep the faith, and one of the ways we can encourage others to keep their faith, it's by loving each other deeply.
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As we wrap up Ruth, I want us to remember that God is at work, even when we don't see what's going on and we don't understand what he's doing, he is at work. He was at work in Moab when everything went wrong for Ruth and Naomi. He was at work in the field when they were just getting by. He was at work on the threshing floor and he was at work in the boring legal procedures that Boaz went through. God is at work all around us, because he cares about every aspect of our lives, and desperately wants to redeem us through Jesus.

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What makes Ruth Chapter 3 such a remarkable story is not that a woman is pursuing a man that she is interested in romantically, but rather that she is seeking the advice of her mother-in-law, the woman whose son she was previously married to, to learn how to proceed in her newly adopted culture. This isn’t a romantic chapter, and it’s not necessarily a how-to chapter, but it is a chapter characterized by honor.

Second, true Godly love is love that honors and protects. love honors—in the daylight or at night. Notice how Boaz is concerned with Ruth’s reputation. He is concerned with her physical well-being, and as we’ll see next week, he is concerned with making sure everything is above board. There is a closer relative, that has no idea what is going on. Boaz and Ruth could be honeymooning in Majorca before this guy has a clue, but loving someone means, honoring them and keeping them honorable.

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We do not see God explicitly mentioned in every single verse in the book of Ruth. The characters talk about Him freely, but the narrator doesn’t instead We see words like we saw in verse 3, “As it turned out” that point us to the fact that God is working behind the scenes in all these things.

The characters in this story are ultimately revealing the character of God to us. God is showing His love for Naomi, how? Through radical devotion from Ruth to Naomi.  God is showing His concern for the poor and the foreigner, the alien, how? By Boaz’s concern for the poor, the alien. 

What we’re seeing in the characters in the story is a picture of the character of God.  And just because we can't see what God is doing, does not mean that he is not working behind the scenes on our behalf. The Book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of the gospel. 

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Ruth is an incredible piece of literature. Every word is chosen with care. It’s got everything you could possibly want in a story. Drama, tragedy, loss, pain, redemption, loyalty, romance. It’s a beautiful love story. But it’s more than just a love story. It’s really a story within a story.

At the beginning of the book in one of my study Bibles put is like this. ”The theological message of the Book of Ruth may be summarized as follows: God cares for needy people like Naomi and Ruth; he is their ally in this chaotic world.” 

Naomi experienced most of her heartbreak and disappointment when she was in Moab.  She left Moab feeling empty and bitter, and once back home, where she was supposed to be, among God’s people, we get this hint of hope…hope that maybe she’ll begin to experience the fullness and sweetness that she had desired for so long.

Really, this is the story of the Bible. The entire human race goes away from God, and his great plan of salvation is to bring them back again.  It’s what we see here in Ruth chapter one, but it’s also what we see echoed throughout scripture. At the center of this story is Jesus, and the good news that calls us back home too, whoever we are, and however far we are from God. It’s a new and infinitely greater gospel than the one that Naomi heard, and it’s an open invitation to all of us: Come home. 

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1 Corinthians 15:3-8 tells us that Jesus's followers got to say what they needed to say to Him. We are looking at the conversations and interactions Jesus had with his followers after Easter.

Jesus has all authority in heaven and earth. He has commanded you to go and make disciples of all nations. Even better, he has promised to go with you. What more could you want? So, let’s go!

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1 Corinthians 15:3-8 tells us that Jesus's followers got to say what they needed to say to Him. We are looking at the conversations and interactions Jesus had with his followers after Easter.

Faithful doubt can lead to greater faith. There is a way to express doubt without abandoning faith. We don't have time to look at everyone who doubted in the Scriptures but think about Thomas. Think about that week between the first and second time Jesus appeared to his disciples. Thomas stayed. He did not say to the others, "you guys are crazy, and until I've experienced what you have experienced, we cannot be friends."

He stayed. He remained with the other disciples, even though he was filled with doubt. I imagine that week must have been awkward at times, but when Jesus showed up, among his people, Thomas was there. Faithful doubt can lead to greater faith.

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We’ve all had the thought, “I wish I could have one more conversation, I wish I could tell them one more thing.” Maybe you’ve lost a loved one, and you regularly are reminded that you didn’t get to say that last goodbye, and now if you had the chance, you know exactly what you’d say. Maybe you’ve been through a terrible breakup or a friendship ended, and you never felt like you got the closure that you need, and now it wouldn’t take long, but you just daydream about what you would say if you had thirty seconds with that person. 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 tells us that Jesus's followers got to say what they needed to say to Him. For the next several weeks, we are looking at the conversations and interactions Jesus had with his followers after Easter.

Jesus, in his first lengthy conversation post-crucifixion, spends the majority of the time showing that God’s word is true, and points to Him. If Jesus thought I that the truth of God's word was some thing worth spending hours discussing right after his resurrection, shouldn't we be reading it?

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When we celebrate Easter Sunday and the resurrection, we celebrate the fulfillment of the promise God made to save humanity from our own sin, But that’s not all! We also celebrate the fulfillment of all God’s promises 

The promise of the resurrection isn’t just for the future. It’s for our present too. The resurrection promises us hope, peace, and fulfillment beyond anything this world can offer.

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