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BlessingsNetwork Francophone"., Pobox 3317 Helensvale Town Centre, Helensvale (2026)

30/01/2025

God is in Control: Hebrews 8:1-3: “Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer.” (NKJ)

The writer of Hebrews brings together the main point of the previous chapter. He now turns from the qualifications of Christ as High Priest to His actual atoning work. He serves us from a position of all authority in heaven. The work is so superior to the ministry of the Jewish priests that, by it, the old system is done away, replaced by the absolute, eternal, and perfect priesthood of Christ.

Jesus’ ministry is performed in the true sanctuary, not of earth, but of heaven, Jesus is seated in heaven, in contrast to the continual service of the priesthood under the Law of Moses. The tabernacle and the temple of the Old Covenant had beautiful furnishings, but no place for the priests to sit down because their work was never finished. The work of Jesus is finished, therefore He is seated in heaven. As Priest and King He occupies the place of supreme power.

Some suppose the true tabernacle is the Church or Jesus’ earthly body. But it is best to understand it as the heavenly reality that the earthly tabernacle imitated.

Sacrifice for sin is essential to the concept of priesthood. Jesus represented a superior priesthood and offered a superior sacrifice. He laid down His own life to atone for sin. Though Jesus never offered a sacrifice according to the Law of Moses He did offer a better sacrifice – the sacrifice of Himself.

28/01/2025

God is in Control: Hebrews 7:28: “For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.” (NKJ)

Total salvation demands a perfect High Priest and a perfect sacrifice for sin. Jesus’ priesthood was established by God, His priesthood is eternal, and He gave Himself as the sacrifice. This is totally unique as a priest may bring a sacrifice and offer it on the altar. Jesus was both the priest and the sacrifice. This is the best sacrifice brought to God the Father by the best priest.

So much is attributed to Jesus throughout Chapter 7, it might appear that there is nothing you need to do, or can do, to make salvation a reality for you. And that is true, Jesus has done all. Nothing you do can improve His work. Nothing you do adds to God’s acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice.

So how do the benefits of Jesus’ sacrifice become yours?
• You accept the gift of salvation by faith.
• Trusting entirely in Jesus for salvation.
• You can do that with a simple prayer.
“Dear God, I trust in Jesus alone. Please forgive my sins through Him and give me the eternal life secured through Him. Amen.”

“But none need be dismayed who come to God in the name of his beloved Son. Let them be assured that he will deliver them in the time of trial and suffering, in the time of prosperity, in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment.” (Matthew Henry)

31/10/2024

God is in Control: Ruth 3:4–6: ”’Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do.’” And she said to her, ‘All that you say to me I will do.’ So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law instructed her.” (NKJ)

The advice Naomi is giving Ruth may seem strange to us, but she was not suggesting a seductive act. In truth, Naomi was telling Ruth to act in accordance with Israelite custom and law. It was common for a servant to lie at the feet of his master and even share a part of his covering. In observing this custom, Ruth would inform Boaz that he could be her kinsman redeemer, that he could find someone to marry her or marry her himself. He would tell her what she should do. It was family business, nothing romantic. But the story later became beautifully romantic as Ruth and Boaz developed an unselfish love and deep respect for each other.

As a foreigner, Ruth may have thought that Naomi’s advice was strange. However, Ruth followed the advice because she knew Naomi was kind, trustworthy, and filled with moral integrity. We too need parents, relaltives and/or friends who look out for our best interests. We should be willing to listen to their advice. The experience or knowledge of such a person can be invaluable. Just think what Ruth’s life would have been if she ignored her mother-in-law.

According to the customs of the day, we cannot say that Ruth and Boaz were dating in the way we think of dating in our modern culture. They were not paired off as a couple with one-on-one time with each other. Rather, they spent their time together in the context of a group, the men and women who worked for Boaz in the harvest. From God’s perspective, there is much in the dating game that works against forming healthy, lasting relationships. For many people, dating means the continual making and breaking of casual romantic relationships, patterns that teach us more about how to end relationships than how to make them last.

Additionally, dating can be a relatively superficial way to get to know someone. Each person in a dating relationship tends to put on a mask for the other. For example, many women have been deceived into thinking a man is a good, nice man because he is nice to them in a dating relationship. Of course, he is! Often, he’s nice because he wants something in that dating relationship. A better gauge to measure the man or the woman is to see how they act towards others in a group setting, because sooner or later, that is how they are going to treat you.

So over the period of the harvests, Ruth and Boaz got to know each other pretty well, by seeing what kind of person the other was around a larger group.

30/10/2024

God is in Control: Ruth 3:2-3; ”Now Boaz, whose young women you were with, is he not our relative? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.” (NKJ)

Naomi is going into action as she had no more sons for Ruth. She realizes there is hope for Ruth due to her deceased husband being related to Boaz. He could be a kinsman redeemer, if he was the closest living relative to her husband.

The threshing floor was the place where the grain was separated from the harvest wheat. The wheat stalks were either crushed by hand or by oxen. The valuable grain separated from the worthless chaff. The floor was made from either rock or hard soil located outside the village, normally on an elevated site where the winds would blow away the lighter chaff, when the crushed wheat was thrown into the air. Boaz would be spending the night beside the threshing floor due to:
• To prevent theft.
• To wait for this turn to thresh grain.
Threshing was often done at night because daylight hours were spent harvesting.

Naomi, in her advice to Ruth, showed a keen knowledge of male behavior. She instructed Ruth to make herself attractive and smelling good, but to leave Boaz alone while he ate. Naomi realized that things needed to be done properly and had to wait for him to settle in after eating and drinking.

We must be careful we move in God’s timing. We have to be obedient to the Spirit and follow His directions. We need to be prayeful as we go about what God has for us to do. Doing just to do can cause problems, wait on the Lord.

29/10/2024

God is in Control: Ruth 3:1-2 ”Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, ‘My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you?” (NKJ)

As widows, Ruth and Naomi could only look forward to difficult times. There was almost nothing worse than being a widow in the ancient world. Widows were taken advantage of or ignored. They were almost poverty stricken. God’s law therefore provided that the nearest relative of the dead husband should care for the widow.

Now Naomi found hope with Ruth having made contact with Boaz by gleaning in his fields. Naomi took it upon herself to help Ruth find a husband in Boaz, that he might be her kinsman redeemer. Ruth 2:20: “Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, ‘Blessed be he of the Lord, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!’ And Naomi said to her, ‘This man is a relation of ours, one of our close relatives.’” Naomi (typical of her character) thought of Ruth first by saying she would help her find security.

The time of the harvest was over, and certainly Ruth and Boaz had been around each other much in the weeks covering the barley and the wheat harvests. They had many opportunity to get to know each other. However, according to the customs of the day, we can not say that Ruth and Boaz were dating as we think of dating in our modern culture. They were not paired off as a couple with one-on-one time with each other; rather, they spent their time together in the context of a group – the men and women who worked for Boaz in the harvest.

From God’s perspective, there is much in the dating game that works against forming healthy, lasting relationships. For many people, dating means the continual making and breaking of casual romantic relationships, patterns that teach us more about how to end relationships than how to make them last.

Dating can be a relatively superficial way to get to know someone. Each person in a dating relationship tends to put on a mask for the other. For example, many women have been deceived into thinking a man is a good, nice man because he is nice to them in a dating relationship. Of course, he is! Often, he’s nice because he wants something in that dating relationship. A better gauge to measure the man or the woman is to see how they act towards others in a group setting, because sooner or later, that is how they are going to treat you.

28/10/2024

God is in Control: Ruth 2:21-23: ”Ruth the Moabitess said, ‘He also said to me, ‘You shall stay close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’ And Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, ‘It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, and that people do not meet you in any other field.’ So she stayed close by the young women of Boaz, to glean until the end of barley harvest and wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law.” (NKJ)

Ruth responded wisely to Naomi’s wise counsel concerning the customs of Naomi’s people. Ruth dutifully followed Naomi’s directions. Boaz allowed her to stay in his fields until the harvest was completed. Ruth stayed at home and helped out her mother-in-law. She performed her responsibilities in an industrious manner with humility.

Naomi’s disposition had changed from when she had returned to her home town. Ruth 1:20: “But she said to them, ‘Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.’” She was bitter wondering and blamed God for her situation. “I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?” Now she begins to see God’s plan unfolding, so she can see things beginning to work out for her.

Namoi told Ruth to stay with Boaz as he is one of their near kinsmen. Not only was he a near kinsman, but he was also generous. Now Naomi is encouraging Ruth with a hope of what can unfold. Like Naomi we must rejoice in our lives when we seek God at work even before it is accomplished. In so doing we will be able to recognize the miracles God is doing in our lives.

26/10/2024

God is in Control: Ruth 2:19-20: ”And her mother-in-law said to her, ‘Where have you gleaned today? And where did you work? Blessed be the one who took notice of you.’ So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, ‘The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.’ Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, ‘Blessed be he of the Lord, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!’ And Naomi said to her, ‘This man is a relation of ours, one of our close relatives.” (NKJ)

Naomi had felt bitter. Ruth 1:20–21: “But she said to them, ‘Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?’” However her faith in God was still alive, and she praised God for Boaz’s kindness to Ruth in her sorrows, she still trusted God and acknowledged His goodness. We may feel bitter about a situation, but we must never despair. Today is always a new opportunity for experiencing God’s care.

Though Ruth may not have always recognized God’s guidance, He had been with her every step of the way. She went to glean and there just happened to be a close relative. This was more than a mere coincidence. As you go about your daily tasks, God is working in your life in ways you may not even notice, let alone understand. We must not close the door on what God can do. Events do not occur by luck or coincidence. We should have faith that God is guiding our lives for His purpose.

Naomi instinctively praises the Lord, recognizing that He is responsible for opening a door that might lead to their redemption. Naomi knows God’s character and prays for her daughter-in-law to experience His goodness, noting that the God of Israel is not only kind, but dependable. Like Ruth, we need to do our routine responsibilities faithfully remaining humble and true to God.

25/10/2024

God is in Control: Ruth 2:17-18: ”So she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. Then she took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. So she brought out and gave to her what she had kept back after she had been satisfied.” (NKJ)

God had blessed Ruth as people were generous to her. Ruth had worked hard. She had worked from sun up to sun down. She had put in a full day’s work. She was able to gather an ephah, two-thirds of a bushel due to her diligence.

Like Ruth we are to be diligent in what we do. 2 Corinthians 8:6-8: “So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also. I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.” The Corinthians believers excelled in everything. They had faith, good preaching, much earnestness, and much love. Sadly, most believers seem not to want to grow in faith, knowledge or love. Often they stop at a comfortable level. Like Ruth we are to give it our very best presently and in the long haul.

Ruth displayed diligence in all she did. She was not only looking out for herself, but she showed a real love and concern for Naomi in her behavior. If we are to glean everything from God’s Word we need to follow her example. She:
• Worked hard.
• Had to stoop to gather every grain.
• Could only pick up one grain at at time.
• Had to hold on to each grain, and not immediately drop it.
• Too the home and threshed it.
• Took the threshed grain and winnowed it.
• Was nourished by the grain.
In addition to all the grain, Ruth brought Naomi the food left over from the meal with Boaz. She obviously blessed Naomi. We also should bless those around us.

24/10/2024

God is in Control: Ruth 2:15-16: ”And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, ‘Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.’ So she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned and it was about an ephah.” (NKJ)

The characters in the book of Ruth are great examples of good people in action. Boaz went way beyond the intent of the gleaner’s law in demonstrating his kindness and generosity. Not only did he let Ruth glean in the field, he also told his workers to let some of the grain fall in her path. Out of his abundance, he provided for the needy. How often do you go beyond the accepted pattern of providing for those less fortunate? Do more than the minimum for others.

She ate and was satisfied. Likewise we shall be satisfied with the precious truth we glean from God’s Word. What Christ reveals will provide us with contentment. We shall find perfect peace within us. It will enable us to live godly and wisely. We will develop a love for His Word and study it with expectation and satisfaction.

Boaz was more generous than the command in Leviticus 19:9: “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest.” Boaz wanted to bless Ruth by having his workers to accidently drop some grain to make sure she got enough. Likewise God blesses us when we are faithful to Him and gives generously.

22/10/2024

God is in Control: Ruth 2:11-12: ”And Boaz answered and said to her, ‘It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before. The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.’” (NKJ)

We find that Boaz’s spiritual priorities are seen in his respect for Ruth’s motivation in coming to Israel, both her supportive kindness to Naomi and her trust in the Lord God of Israel.

Ruth’s life exhibited admirable qualities: she was hard working, loving, kind, faithful, and brave. These qualities gained her a good reputation, but only because she consistently displayed them in all areas of her life. Whenever Ruth went or whatever she did her character remained the same. People knew Ruth’s obedience.

Your reputation is formed by the people who watch you at work, in town, at home, and in church. A good reputation comes by consistently living out the qualities you believe in, no matter what group of people or surroundings you are in. Do you merit mercy as did Ruth?

As a person growing up I lived in the country, near small towns. There is a dynamic of small town life, everybody knows everybody else’s business. Ruth’s devotion to Naomi mattered – it was noticed. Boaz treated her as new convert to the God of Israel. Many new believers need to look to Ruth as an example.
• Putting their trust in the God of Israel.
• Leaving her past behind her.
• Join in and fellowship with believers.
• Remain humble.
• Accept God’s protection under His wings.

Meanwhile older Christians should be like Boaz to younger Christians who are like Ruth. Tenderly encouraging others is what to expect of older Christians are to do. Do not be afraid to help bring new believers along. We are not only to win news disciples, we also maybe needed to help them grow in their walk with Christ.

21/10/2024

God is in Control: Ruth 2:10: ”So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, ‘Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?’” (NKJ)

This was the humblest posture of reverence, either civil, when performed to men, or religious, when to God. And thus she shows both the lowliness of her mind and her gratitude. In great humility, and under a deep sense of the favor done her, and as showing the greatest respect.

Ruth’s attitude was wonderful. Some of us would have said, “Well it’s about time someone noticed! I’ve been working hard all day. Now God will give me the blessings that I deserve.” We never see Ruth asking why all the hard things have come upon her in life. Instead, she asks why this good thing has come. This is a significant difference in attitude.

Being from Moab, Ruth constantly had to have on her mind that she was a foreigner. A stranger had no right or claims on protection in a foreign land. Therefore, she knew that on the basis of her national background, she did not belong. This made Boaz’s kindness to her all the more precious. God’s love inside Boaz melted his heart of any prejudice that he might have had for Ruth as a foreigner from a pagan, enemy country.

BlessingsNetwork Francophone".

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