Pastor Ray’s Message Hope in the Darkness – Ruth 1

On Sunday, we jumped into chapter 1 of that delightful book in the Old Testament called Ruth. What makes it so delightful you might ask?
Well, for one, it has a way of drawing us into the story in a way that speaks to each of us, both personally and collectively.

On a personal level, it speaks to our loneliness, poverty, hunger, and even dealing with bereavement.
On a collective level, it speaks to the uncertainty of a world that seems adrift from its anchor, where ‘everyone does that which is right in their own eyes.’

Here’s a quick summary of Hope in the Darkness message:

In chapter 1, we encounter the tragic loss of family in a foreign land.
We see Naomi, an older lady, facing poverty, uncertainty and loneliness.
But we also see a glimmer of hope.
We catch a glimpse of God working behind the scenes to help Naomi.
We see God’s loving character reflected into Naomi’s dark world through a young lady called Ruth.
In fact, Ruth’s response went way beyond what anyone could have expected.
It was extravagant. It was generous. It was all-in.
And it changed Naomi’s world.
It changed the world, too. (You will have to wait to chapter 4 to find out how!).

In this way, Ruth reflects some of the character of Jesus.
What Ruth does for Naomi in a smaller way, Jesus does for us in a far bigger way.
Jesus goes way beyond what we deserve or can even imagine.
Using this idea, we can summarise the big idea from the book of Ruth as follows:
“In His extravagant grace, God redeems our story and weaves it into His greater story.”

How does that sentence sit for you right now?
I trust that it sits well with you?
If so – may you be filled with wonder and thankfulness.
If not, if it is hard to see, then my prayer is that you will catch a glimpse of God at work in and around you this week.
May you be encouraged.

May you and I reflect Jesus into our world in unexpected and disarming ways.
May we see His unfolding greater story.
And may it take our breath away.

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