Wednesday, 20^th September 2023

Andrews Ampomah

TOPIC: YOU ARE REDEEMED

THEME SCRIPTURE: “And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.” – Ruth 2:1

 

PREPARATORY QUESTIONS:

1. What does it mean for Jesus to be your Kinsman Redeemer?

 

The biblical concept of a kinsman redeemer, originally introduced in Leviticus 25, represents a close family member's selfless role in settling another's debts.

This duty within the covenant community in Israel involved providing and protecting vulnerable family members. It encompassed buying back family land to ensure its possession remains within the family, marrying a deceased relative's widow to preserve lineage and inheritance, and aiding enslaved family members by providing the conditions for their liberation. But the concept of a kinsman redeemer ultimately foreshadowed Christ Jesus, who came to redeem humanity through His death and resurrection.

Jesus' selfless sacrifice paid the ultimate price to rescue us from sin and spiritual bondage, providing a way for us to be reconciled with God (Col 1:20-22).

In the season of the barley harvest, Ruth providentially finds herself gleaning in the field of Boaz. In his kindness, Boaz instructed her to stay and glean from his field throughout the entire harvest season. Ruth shared this news with Naomi, who revealed that Boaz was a kinsman of Elimelech, Ruth's late father-in-law (Ruth 2:1, 20). Ruth's encounter with Boaz took on a whole new significance, with the potential not only to change her future but to find herself in the lineage of the Ultimate Kinsman Redeemer, Christ Jesus. Boaz, the wise and worthy kinsman redeemer that he is, responds favorably to Ruth’s request and takes her as a wife. He fulfills all the conditions of a kinsman redeemer and produces a child with Ruth to carry on Elimelech’s family line.

Dearly beloved in Christ Jesus, the sins of humanity, both our own and Adam's, placed us under the heavy bondage of sin and death. We were enslaved to Satan, and nothing we could do would free us from his grasp.

We were guilty, condemned souls, deserving of God's righteous wrath and eternal punishment. There seemed to be no glimmer of hope for us to be reconciled back to God until the Only Begotten Son of the Father stepped into time as our Ultimate Kinsman Redeemer. He met the conditions for our eternal liberation and reconciled us with God. It was said of Mary “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins" (Matt 1:21). This is the same Jesus whom John the Baptist upon seeing exclaimed: “…behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). In Christ Jesus, the full penalty of our sins is paid for, He bought us back from the slave market and reconciled us to God, Hallelujah! You are redeemed, you are no longer a slave to sin. God bless you.

 

FURTHER READING – Ephesians 1:3-14

Call to Salvation: Today is your day if you have not received salvation by turning over your life to Jesus Christ. Click here to do so.

 

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:

1. Are you not the redeemed of the Lord? Should you not, at any time and anywhere, say so?

 

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank You that through Your love, You sent Jesus our Ultimate Kinsman Redeemer to buy me back from the slave market of sin and death and to reconcile me to You. Help me to appropriate Your grace by Your Holy Spirit to live as one redeemed in Christ Jesus, Amen.

 

1-Year Bible Reading Plan

I Chronicles 3; Ezekiel 16; Luke 12