It's Never Wrong to Do the Right Thingنموونە

FEARLESS LOVE

We find the story of the kinsman-redeemer—one of my all-time favorites—in the book of Ruth. This story has shown me what fearless love, selfless care, and commitment to the brokenhearted look like.

You may remember that Ruth was a young widow from Moab who with a beautiful vow committed to accompanying her mother-in-law, Naomi, to Israel.

Back in Naomi’s hometown of Bethlehem, the two poor and vulnerable women encountered a relative, Boaz, who was someone who could fulfill the role of a kinsman-redeemer. That is, according to the custom of that time and place, he could marry Ruth, acquire the property belonging to Naomi’s deceased husband, and pass it along to a son he might have with Ruth (Deuteronomy 25:5-10; Genesis 38:6-10; Numbers 36:7-9). This is what Boaz arranged to do.

For two people of different backgrounds and economic levels, marrying under restrictive property laws, this course might not have seemed easy. But they exuberantly agreed anyway. Their aim may have been to produce an heir for Naomi’s family line … but there was no law against them falling in love!

The story of Boaz and Ruth is iconic. It’s a beautiful symbolic romance of fearless love; and Scripture tells us, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18, NIV).

The book of Ruth is a picture of the ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer, Jesus Christ, who redeems all who come to Him in faith. He loved us so much, He gave Himself to purchase us back from an enemy who hates us and wants to destroy our lives. Those willing to forsake their old lives, affiliations, people groups, idols, and misplaced worship and choose to cling to Him with the allegiance of Ruth—He will redeem them fully.

He increases our inheritance and grafts us into His lineage—not as servants, but as sons and daughters in the Kingdom of God. He changes our status, our identity, our nature, our language, our posterity, and our eternity. He takes us from weakness to strength; and He teaches us to love fearlessly.

DO THE RIGHT THING: Give thanks to God today for the fearless love He has shown to you. And ask Him for the courage to show the same sort of love to others today.