“Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders.” Ephesians 2:11
Ruth was an outsider because she was born a Moabite. The Moabites hadn’t helped the Israelites during their years wandering in the desert (Deuteronomy 23:3-6) so God told the Israelites to have nothing to do with them. As a Moabite, Ruth wasn’t eligible to be included in God’s family.
After the death of her husband, Ruth decided to follow her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to Israel. She committed herself to the God of the Israelites, abandoning the pagan gods of Moab. God responded by remarkably overturning her circumstances. She married Boaz, a highly regarded, wealthy Jewish man. Ruth had committed herself to God and he completely changed her position from being an outsider to an insider.
The full extent of this becomes clear when we see Ruth’s name appear in Jesus’ family line (Matthew 1:5). Ruth is the recipient of an amazing privilege.
Ruth turns out to be the Cinderella of the Bible.
But, we’re all like Ruth. None of us are entitled to be included in God’s family. He is a holy God, we are unworthy people. God should have nothing to do with us, yet, because of his grace, he sent Jesus so we could be part of his family. It’s an act of unmerited favour that we receive when we commit ourselves to him.
God sent Jesus to die on a cross so we could be reconciled to him. When we commit ourselves to him, he completely changes our spiritual position. He puts us in the privileged position of being a favoured son or daughter of God. Our name appears in Jesus’ family.
We can all be Cinderella and be invited to God’s salvation banquet. We cannot earn an invitation and we don’t deserve one. However, through Jesus, we can accept God’s invitation to a new life.
Let’s pray …
Thank you Lord for the story of Ruth. Thank you Lord that you invite us all to your salvation banquet, regardless of our backgrounds, our circumstances, or our worthiness.
Thank you for the bread that reminds us your body was broken so that we could be restored to relationship with you. A relationship where you not only forgive us, but place us in a position of being a favoured son or daughter of the Most High.
Thank you for the cup that reminds us of your blood spilled out for us so that we would be empowered to live new lives as your beloved children.
In Jesus’ Name
Amen
