Wray

Ruth 4

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Intro

The book of Ruth is more than just a story about kindness even though that plays an important part in the book along with other sub-themes such as repentance, faith, grace, and works; characteristics that are considered to be New Covenant traits.  What we see though is that the word translated into a form of kind (kindly, kindness) is found three times in the book of Ruth, it only refers to Ruth twice and the word is more often translated to “mercy.” Now on the other hand we have the word for redeem/redeemer and it is found 21 times in the four chapters of the book of Ruth with 13 of those times in the last chapter…but redemption is only half of what this prose is really about.

We pick up the story today at the end of the harvest and at the time of the year we are currently in: the Pentecost season.

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Shaped Through Adversity

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What is it that God is doing in your life right now?  I think we all know the general answer to this – He is growing us!  He is building holy righteous character within us!  He is making us like His Son who came and lived a perfect sinless life.

“We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”  (Romans 8:28-29)

Of course this is what any Christian wants – to be like Christ.  In fact, when we call ourselves a “Christian” we are identifying ourselves as a follower of Christ.  We are saying that we want to live as He lived and be as He was on earth.

The problem is that we “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23)  Our nature is an enemy to God (Romans 8:7) and if we are left to our own devices we will go the wrong way – away from Christ.

“O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walks to direct his steps.”  (Jeremiah 10:23)

“There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 14:12, 16:25)

How is it then that God shapes and molds us into what we should be? It is through the adversity of trials and tribulation.  “He is like a refiner’s fire And like launderers’ soap.” (Malachi 3:2).  Peter writes knowing how we will view testing, but nonetheless it brings about the intended fruit.

“… though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)

It is God’s fervent desire that we be ready spiritually; that we are His express image and character; the same as His Son that we are to be pursuing.  He accomplishes this in us by and through trials.

Christ set the precedent in this also:  “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:  Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed himself to Him that judges righteously.”  (1 Peter 2:21-23)

We, if we are true Christians, will have to follow His example of suffering AND we should undergo the trials with the correct frame of mind and right attitude.

“For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.” (1 Peter 2:20)

Jesus did not transgress the law of God and still suffered unjustly.  How much more then should we accept justly and properly the testing that God deems necessary for us to endure?

Listen to: Shaped Through Adversity or watch: Why Does God Allow Christians to Suffer?

7 Keys to Studying & Understanding the Bible

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The Bible is the most misunderstood book of all time.  When understood correctly: The Bible has the answers to all we need.  So how do we effective study and understand it?

Philosophy and Science have tried to no avail to answer the deeper questions of life:

What is man? What is the difference between man and animals?What happens to us when we die?

Another system: False Religion has tried but come up way short because they too have been misled.

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Water Shortages Expected to Continue in SW US

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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — One of the main reservoirs in the vast Colorado River water system that is struggling to serve the booming Southwest will get more water this year, but that won’t be enough to pull Lake Mead back from near-record lows.

Water managers, farmers and cities throughout the region have been closely watching the elevation at the reservoir behind Hoover Dam. It is at its lowest level since the dam was complete and the lake first was filled in the 1930s.

A drop to 1,075 would mean cuts in water deliveries to Arizona and Nevada.

Despite the additional water, Lake Mead is projected to remain near record lows at 1,083 feet in January – three feet higher than it was Wednesday. That’s because more water will be delivered to cities, farms, American Indian communities and Mexico than Lake Mead will get from Lake Powell.

Some water managers and users have been saving water for potential dry days or preparing for an expected water shortage in 2016. Bureau of Reclamation spokeswoman Rose Davis said officials still are running numbers that would show the percentage chance of cuts in 2016. Those figures are expected to be released later this month.

The entire Colorado River system supplies water to California, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and part of Mexico.

via News from The Associated Press.