Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

“Then she fell on her face and bowed herself to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take knowledge of me, since I am a foreigner?” Boaz answered her, “I have been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father, your mother, and the land of your birth, and have come to a people that you didn’t know before. May Yahweh repay your work, and a full reward be given to you from Yahweh, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.””
(Ruth 2:10-12)

““Every word of God is flawless.
    He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Don’t you add to his words,
    lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.”
(Proverbs 30:5-6)

“Yahweh is righteous.
    He has cut apart the cords of the wicked.”
(Psalm 129:4)

Boaz never treated Ruth like she was a foreigner. He treated her as if she was a biological daughter of Naomi, giving her privileges far beyond her station in life. Giving her the privileges of a daughter of the FAMILY. He did this for two reasons. First and foremost, it was because she chose to follow God. Ruth is a model for the Jewish convert. Someone who accepted God and God’s Law as if she was born into it. Wholehearted devotion to God and to God’s chosen people. Second, because her conduct as a person demonstrated that her belief in and following of God was sincere. It informed who she was, how she spoke, and what she did. Her deep love of her mother Naomi opened the door to a deep love of God and an embracing of His moral character – something completely foreign to her own culture and people.

God protects those who shelter in Him. We see it again and again throughout scripture. It is a cornerstone of our trust in Him. He DOES what He says that He will do. He is FAITHFUL. He is TRUSTWORTHY. He is an amazing caregiver and the ultimate source of everything good. You can’t explain away God’s faithfulness. The small blessings, the small miracles, the big blessings, and the big miracles. The consistent protection, provision, and shelter that are the familial rights of all who love and follow God.

God cut the cords chaining us to wickedness (Colossians 1:13). No matter who we were. What culture we were. Or what religion we were. God cut those chains and set us free in and through Jesus. We are adopted into His family (Galatians 4:4-7). We are His children (John 1:12-13). He doesn’t treat us as we deserve. He treats us as JESUS deserves because we are – every one of us – His sons and His daughters.

Summary

The mercy and grace of God are evident when we look at ourselves. We know what we think. The things we have said. The things we have done. We know what we, in ourselves, deserved. But God didn’t treat us that way. Because we accepted Jesus and what Jesus did for us by paying the price for Sin and our iniquities, we are become Jesus IN Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21). God treats us like His kids! Full sons and daughters. Given favour. Given provision. Looked after. Blessed. Watched over. Protected. Hidden in Him. Because we love Him. Because we follow Him. Because we look to Him as our Source. Because we SHELTER and REST in Jesus – letting His work accomplish what His work was meant to accomplish. Relying on HIM for our strength, our joy, and our life.