Standing In His Victory
Here I am, covered by the banner of the Chelsea fan of the year 2021!😃 I share in his victory as he places his victorious banner over me! Every win of his is mine and mine his! (yes I’m a Chelsea fan by marriage!😃)
More than His club’s win (I mean our club!😉), this picture expresses what my husband does for me, he spreads his covering of love, protection and care over me. Ever since he chose to be my husband and I agreed to be his wife, he has loved me, covered me, nourished me, strengthened me and yes cuddled me plenty too! 😃😃😃
The picture also reminds me of Ruth and Boaz and the beautiful redemption story that unfolded in their lives.
Ruth the Moabitess, widowed and alone, chooses to return to Bethlehem with her mother in-law Naomi. She had no guarantee that life would be better in Bethlehem, especially with her status as a foreigner, but she was determined to accompany her Mother in-law wherever she went.
As the unseen hand of God would have it, she stumbles into the field of Boaz to pick up some left over grain from the harvest. Boaz shows her kindness when he learns she is Naomi’s daughter in-law. Boaz, she later learns from Naomi is a close relative.
Fast forward into time, Ruth is guided by her mother in-law to seek out Boaz to perform his role as Kinsman-Redeemer, meaning as closest relative, he would take over the estate of Ruth’s late husband Mahlon, marry Ruth, and bear children in Mahlon’s name as per Jewish custom.
“And he said, “Who are you?” So she answered, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative.”” (Ruth 3:9)
As the story unfolds we see Ruth married to Boaz, she becomes a mother and lays her son on Grandmother Naomi’s lap. These two widows whose fate seemed sealed, experience restoration. This was all possible because Boaz stepped up as a Kinsman-Redeemer! He spread his covering of love, protection and honour over Ruth, and Naomi was also blessed in the process! Boaz could have said no, and Ruth would have remained a widow and Naomi wouldn’t have known the joy of being a grandmother. But Boaz was unselfish and generous in accepting to be kinsman-redeemer. The relative who was closer in relation than himself rejected the offer because he did not want his marriage to Ruth to interfere with his own lineage. For truly, marrying Ruth meant he would bear children in Mahlon’s name and not his.
“And the close relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”” (Ruth 4:6)
But Boaz counted the cost and paid the price to give Ruth dignity and honour her late husband. What a huge sacrifice on his part!
“And Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, from the hand of Naomi. Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren and from his position at the gate. You are witnesses this day.”” (Ruth 4:9-10)
So yes I’m inspired by Boaz of the Bible! He gets my vote for Gentleman of the Old Testament! He unselfishly and honorably stood up to the task at hand and gave Ruth a second chance!
And I am eternally indebted to my Lord Jesus Christ who did even more so for us when He stepped out of eternity into time to redeem us for Himself. He loved us and spread His covering over us when we were so undeserving!
That covering was His blood which He shed for us! The Blood that washes away our sin and brings us into fellowship with God. Through the covering of the Blood we have forgiveness of sins and protection from all evil!
Like the blood of lambs the Israelites smeared on their door posts when the plaque of death was pronounced, Christ is the Eternal Lamb whose blood exempts us from eternal damnation!
When Christ rose from the grave, having won victory over sin and death and ascended into Heaven, He cast his cloak of victory over us and invited us to share in His triumph! Apostle Paul puts it this way;
“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,” (1 Timothy 2:5-6)
And again the Bible declares that
“we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). We are clothed in Christ’s victory!
He gladly chose to be our Redeemer! At great personal cost, He carried the cross mankind deserved and gave up His life on it! He is the Ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer! Our Saviour, our Rock, our Shield!
As the Bible says;
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”(Galatians 3:13-14)
Christ did for us what no else could do so let’s celebrate His love and stay covered under His banner of love for certainly there’s no better place to be! His victory gives humanity unlimited access to divinity!
“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)
Thank You Lord Jesus for redeeming me and making me your very own! If you had not come onto the scene, our lives would have been chaotic! But you made a way and made us your own! Hallelujah!
If you are reading this, I hope you identify with Christ as your Redeemer! If not, I urge you to seek refuge under His banner of love. No one else can love you as much as He does!
God In Every Moment 