The Willing Christ

The Willing Christ

Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you? Now Boaz, whose young women you were with, is he not our relative? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do.” And she said to her, “All that you say to me I will do.”

Ruth 3

By the third chapter of Ruth, the pace quickens. As soon as Naomi understands the occurrences of the day, she begins to expound Boaz to Ruth. She acts as the ‘evangelist’ to bring to Ruth ‘the Gospel of Boaz.’ So God places in our way that individual, who will preach Christ to us. The remainder of the chapter shows us how utterly willing Boaz was to perform what was necessary to redeem Ruth and all that respected her. While she arrives on his ‘doorstep’ of her own accord, it was her ‘evangelist,’ Naomi, who sent her. Boaz receives her graciously, commends her for coming, promises to do her good, and clearly delineates what obstacles he must overcome to carry out the redemption. Here we see the picture of the ‘Utterly Willing Christ.’

We may think of ourselves as the ones whom ‘came to Christ,’ yet there was that person who pointed us to Him. They extolled His virtues, and magnified His Person.  We have arrived upon His doorstep, hopeful that He is as good as we were told. We have found Him, not just as good as advertised, but altogether better.  Christ is a Better Host, a Better Character, a Better Prospect, a Better Redeemer, than we could have hoped. He understands the cost and obstacles to redeeming us, and all that is ours. He does not chide us for taking so long to arrive. He sees to it that we receive every encouragement for having sought Him. He is the Utterly Willing Christ. Let us today rejoice that, ‘him that comes to me, I will, in no wise cast out.’

Gracious Savior,
We rejoice in Your Kind Reception of us.
You are, in every way, our Kinsman Redeemer.

Where the Bush is Burning
Tomm Tice