Day 19: Wanted
Reading for Today
Ruth 4:4-6 NLT
4 I thought I should speak to you about it so that you can redeem it if you wish. If you want the land, then buy it here in the presence of these witnesses. But if you don’t want it, let me know right away, because I am next in line to redeem it after you.”
The man replied, “All right, I’ll redeem it.”
5 Then Boaz told him, “Of course, your purchase of the land from Naomi also requires that you marry Ruth, the Moabite widow. That way she can have children who will carry on her husband’s name and keep the land in the family.”
6 “Then I can’t redeem it,” the family redeemer replied, “because this might endanger my own estate. You redeem the land; I cannot do it.”
Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT
14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
As a kid, I remember feeling the fear of not being picked. As the class lined up to be chosen by the two captains, everyone wanted to be picked for a team. I believe this represents a larger principle that exists even in our adult life.
We all want to be wanted.
We want to know that someone sees us for who we really are and believes in who we can be. We want to experience of someone picking us out of the crowd because the captain recognizes something unique in us.
Too often instead of feeling the joy of being picked, we feel the disappointment of being passed over. Ruth knew this feeling all too well. As God led her on a journey towards the right one for her, she had to first be rejected by the wrong one. While it may have been painful, this rejection pushed right into the arms of her destiny. She would soon discover that Boaz not only wanted her, but he was willing to pay the required price to have her. In this way, Boaz points us to Jesus who was willing to pay a high price for us.
As you draw closer to the end of this fast, be reminded that you are WANTED. You are loved. You are valued. When God looks at you, He sees a wonderful masterpiece.