Boaz

by

2 Chronicles 3:17 Established And Strengthened By God

He erected the pillars in the front of the temple, one to the south and one to the north. The one to the south he named Jakin and the one to the north Boaz. 2 Chronicles 3:17

Every building that is built has some type of support structure to keep it standing. Most are built with just walls that can support it. A few will have pillars supporting in various positions for aesthetic looks.

Each one is built and established by someone with a dream or a desire of a specific purpose for that building.

Solomon had two pillars made for the temple that he named one Jakin–meaning ‘He establishes’, and the other Boaz–meaning ‘in Him is strength’.

Wealthy people have often established their own businesses to gain more wealth. They find their strength in what they do and have. Having this type of establishment will work for a time but can and will eventually falter and fail in the end. Anything established and supported by the world is only temporary and cannot give one eternal life.

God in His great wisdom and love created man and then later established the way for man to be saved and given eternal life. It is only by the work of Jesus upon the cross that any person can receive eternal life.

Along with establishing man, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to give the believer strength needed to live the life God has called him to live. All this work is begun by God and completed by God. He is the two towers in the life of a believer–the establisher and the strength. The believer must only accept it and use what God has provided.

Living with being established and supported by God will give one strength to live a holy life and live for eternity.

You may have many different supports of strength in your life. However, most of those supports are only temporary and cannot provide true life that will extend into eternity.

In your own power and strength, you will never be able to live the holy life God has called you to live that will bring you into eternity. God has established you as a believer, a child of His with His support and strength. He has provided you abundantly for all that you will need to be holy as He is holy.

Make sure God is the two pillars in your life.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will be established by God for His glory; that you will be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to live a holy life and do His work on the earth; and that you will be the temple of God.

by

Ruth 3:11 What Are You Known For?

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

Every person is known for something. Famous people are often known by what they can do or what they had done. Singers are known for their voice and songs, actors for their movies, sportsmen for their championships or wins. Others are known for their extreme wealth or discoveries in the science or medical fields.

While these things may be good, they are all surface and temporary and do not reveal who the person really is.

Boaz told Ruth that in his town all the people knew her as a woman of noble character and so he was willing to do what she asked of him.

Even though many people are known for doing some amazing things, very few are known for their character as being noble. It is common for famous people to do great things but have very poor character. They are then known for getting drunk, doing drugs, getting into fights, abusiveness, foul language and much more, despite all their famous abilities.

Although believers should be known for a noble character, many have the same character as those in the world. Lying, cheating, stealing, abusiveness, drunkenness, greediness and more are known characteristics of many in the church, and often without regret or sorrow.

Believers are to be set apart as different. Their character should shine before their world as one of noble character, that of God. As Jesus, the believer should live his life above reproach and of a different character than the world.

People should know the believer as one of noble character that can be trusted to do what is right no matter how difficult it is.

Regardless of where you live, there are people who live around you who are watching you, know you and make judgements on your character. Some of these people will see you in the best of your times and in the worst of your times.

How you act and react to situations will show your true character, whether noble or corrupt. Everything that you say or do should reflect God’s Holy Spirit in your life. A noble character should be the description of your life.

How would people around you, both known and unknown, close or distant, describe your character?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will be known for a Godly and noble character; that all of your words and actions will reflect God’s character; and that God will give you strength to always do what is right.

by

Ruth 2:11 What Will You Leave Behind?

Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband–how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know.” Ruth 2:11

Stepping out into the unknown is very difficult for many people. It not only requires a step of faith, but also a step away from the familiar and safe and known place.

Sometimes it will require leaving family and friends behind to go to the new place or to a new level. Doing this can be painful and difficult.

Boaz had heard of how Ruth had left her family and land to follow Naomi into a new land after her husband had died.

Every person has various points in their life in which they have to take a step into something unknown or new to them. It begins as a child moving up into new class levels in school and continues through adulthood with new jobs or locations to live.

Any time a person becomes a new believer, he must take a step into something new, something unknown. There is a change of the way of thinking and doing things. In this process one must be willing to leave behind things and people.

The new believer has a new life and is a new creation in Christ Jesus with a new family and a new way of living. It is a new culture that is drastically different from the past. The past is behind, and all things are new.

Taking a step like this requires complete faith in God and His boldness to step away from the past. It is trusting that God knows what is best and has something better in store.

As a believer there are some things that you have had to leave behind. There may be more things or people that God wants you to leave behind because they only distract you from Him and pull you down.

Keep your eyes focused on God and follow Him all the way. Do not allow people or things in your life to pull you away from God and what He has for you.

What God has in store for you is much greater than anything or anyone you must leave behind. Are you holding on to your past? Or are you leaving all behind and moving forward in Jesus?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know what God wants you to leave behind; that God will give you strength to leave behind what will harm or distract you; and that you will follow God with all of your heart and life.

by

Ruth 4:14 The Guardian-Redeemer

Dove above a well

The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel!” Ruth 4:14 

Sometimes in life people go through some tough times and feel as if there is no hope left. No matter where they look, all they see is trouble. No matter what they do, all they get is trouble.

It is at this point that many turn to drugs, false gods, other spirits, things, people, or even death. They want to give up and quit. In their eyes there is no hope available, there is no reason to keep fighting to move forward.

Yet, there is a hope.

Naomi and her two daughters-in-law were without husbands. Each husband had died. Then came a severe famine in their land. There was nothing left. However, when they returned to Israel, to Bethlehem, God had a plan in place for them.

It was there that Ruth met Boaz. After a time, he chooses to take care of Naomi and marries Ruth. The women of the town quickly began to say that he is their guardian-redeemer, the one who is to take care of them. Later Ruth has a child, Obed, who is the father of Jesse, who is the father of David. A thousand years later, a grandchild is born of David–Jesus.

Jesus is the one who became the guardian-redeemer of all people who believe in Him and follow God.

As time went along, Boaz, Obed, Jesse, David and Jesus all died, however, only Jesus arose from the dead to be the eternal Guardian-Redeemer. He bought back all the people of God from the world and Satan. He provides everything that a person needs, including the most precious thing–life.

You may be going through tough times right now. It may look as though there is no hope, but only death to end it all. It may look as though God is against you and forgotten you.

However, Jesus and the Father will never forget you. You are written in the palm of His hand. It was for you that Jesus shed His blood on the cross. You have a hope that will last for all eternity.

Believing in and following Jesus will be an eternal hope. He will be your Guardian-Redeemer, Savior forever. You have a hope that the world does not know about.

Don’t give up now. You have a Guardian-Redeemer!

I pray today that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will know God is for you; that you will know Jesus paid for your life and will keep it; and that you will know the hope you have of eternity with God in heaven some day.

by

Ruth 2:11 Your Character Will Be Known

Person with hat

Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of  your husband–how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before.” Ruth 2:11 

Things that are done in the home in secret are often thought of as private and that no one knows about it. Yet, it is these actions that show the true character of a person. It shows what they are really like, instead of just putting on a show for the public.

People also talk and learn about what a person is really like. Everywhere a person goes, others are watching and listening. They are subconsciously finding out what a person is really like.

When Ruth and Naomi had moved to Bethlehem, Ruth had begun to gather leftover grain in the field of Boaz. After hearing about her, Boaz made sure she was given extra grain, providing abundantly for her. Ruth noticed the extra provision and asked him why he was treating her so well. He told her that it was because he had learned of everything she had done, leaving her family and homeland to stay with Ruth in a foreign land.

Ruth’s character of selflessness, loyalty and caring was seen by everyone. Her character had preceded her to others, giving her extra favor.

A person’s character will be seen by other people, whether it is good or bad. If it is a bad character, people will stay away and not trust. If it is a good character, they will come near and be faster to support.

Believers also show some character. Their character is to be one that portrays that of Jesus Christ. One of love, mercy, grace, kindness, patience and more. Although these are the characteristics believers should show, many are showing the characteristics of the world, hatred, jealousy, anger, rudeness and impatience.

People are watching you and wanting to know who you really are. They are trying to find out if your actions are matching your words.

If your character is matching that of Jesus, people will be faster to listen to you talk about Him. They will know that you are real in what you say and they will believe that the reason for this is because of Jesus.

If your character is like that of the world’s, then no one will listen to you talk about Jesus.

What is your character saying about you?

I pray today that you will live like Jesus did; that your character will match that of Jesus; that you will live true to God before all people; and that you will see God’s favor on your life.