When we put on a new shirt or blouse, it can change our whole outlook on life. Instead of dingy and tattered clothes, new clothes can just make us feel good. Scripture tells us of something we need more than we need new clothes…our life needs to be made new.

As we look around this fallen world, most people see no need for Christ. They may think He was a nice man who taught wise lessons. He was a nice and very wise Man, but He is much more. Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation. In Him, we find new life, so the sinful life of worldly ways becomes dingy, worn, and needs to be renewed.

Nicodemus, a Pharisee seeking truth, came to Jesus and confessed that he knew Jesus was a teacher come from God, but it’s not enough to know that Jesus’ teachings are good. In order to find salvation through Him, there’s more required than just head knowledge about who Jesus is.

“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:5-7).

Nicodemus was confused, but Jesus explained the truth to him by explaining an incident recorded in Numbers chapter 21. The Israelites had spoken against God, forgetting that He had brought them out of dismal slavery in Egypt. God sent fiery serpents that would bite the people and bring death. The people finally admitted that it was their sin that had caused this, and the Lord told Moses to make a serpent of brass (a symbol of sin) and put it on a pole. When someone looked to that symbol of sin on the pole, they would be healed. That seems like a strange story until Jesus fully explained it.

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:14-15).

The Israelites admitted their sin, repented, and God sent the cure for sin. The ultimate cure for sin and the eternal death it brings is looking to Jesus, who became sin for us and died on the cross at Calvary.

The world holds many temptations and struggles. It’s human nature to sin, and that separates us from God. Sin is burdensome, and it takes a toll on us. We grow weary of the unfulfilling life of sin. It may seem that there’s no point in living. Then, you look to the cross and realize that God truly loves you. He gave His life so you can live. You may think that sounds like a nice pie-in-the-sky hope, but when you look at your life and see all the sinful things you’ve done, you only see your sin. Don’t be discouraged. There is no sin you’ve ever committed that God won’t forgive.

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17).

Jesus said that, so you know it’s the truth. The only thing that will condemn you to eternal death is if you choose to reject the free gift of salvation found in Jesus Christ. If you do that, then He hasn’t condemned you, but you’ve condemned yourself.

Once you have seen your need for salvation through Christ and accepted His sacrifice for your redemption, you need to put on the “new man.” Just like an old garment, the old man (or woman) needs to be changed. When you repent, you don’t need to go through your entire life telling God (or any man) every sin you’ve ever committed. You’ve probably committed more sins than you can even remember. Repentance is changing your mind about the sin you once embraced and turning away from it. Once you’ve changed your mind, begin living life in a new way. Turn away from the ways of the world.

“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness” (Ephesians 4:17-19).

People who haven’t come to the saving grace of Christ don’t understand how lost they are. We can see the results of this lasciviousness, which is unbridled lust and moral impurity, in many lives today. Abortion, homosexuality, child abuse, cold-hearted murders, and more are signs that the world is in the clutches of Satan’s power. When you come to a saving knowledge of Christ, the immorality of the world should no longer appeal to you. You put on the new man who follows Christ.

“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).

Friends and family may not understand your new attitude and try to pull you back to the life of sin you once embraced, but don’t turn back. You have a new life in Christ. You are a new creation.

John was one of the men closest to Jesus when He walked this earth. He must have been amazed to learn of being born again and the Holy Spirit living inside of believers. He knew that Jesus first brought His Good News to the nation of Israel. Though the nation as a whole rejected Him, a few Jewish men and women chose to follow Him. Because the leaders rejected their Messiah, salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus is open for all people.

“He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:11-13).

This is a spiritual rebirth. The word translated “son” actually means a child, son or daughter. Being a child of God is a privileged place. By faith we accept His death, burial, and resurrection, and that means we are reborn into a new life in Christ. As newborn children, we need to learn of God’s ways. Scripture is our textbook, and the Holy Spirit is our teacher. Measure your life by Scripture, and put on the new man instead of holding onto the old.

“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” (Colossians 3:8-10).

Our works won’t save us, but once we claim Christ for salvation, we need to work on our way of life. Our new life in Christ should show to everyone around us. The old man should be gone, and the new man should be an example to the world.

Jesus Christ came into this fallen world to become the final sacrifice for our redemption. His death was not a tragedy but a victory. His blood wasn’t tainted by sin, and only our faith in His death, burial, and resurrection will bring eternal life. Only God’s pure blood could pay the price of our redemption. When we truly accept Him, our life is no longer our own. We need to live for Him.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).

That isn’t asking too much. Jesus shed His blood for you; you accepted His sacrifice, so now you need to put aside the sin that the world accepts and live for Christ. Apply Scripture to your daily life and walk in His ways. Put on the new man and let the world know that you’re a Christian.

It’s important for you to have answers ready for anyone who wants to know about the changes they see in you. People will want to know why you prefer to spend time with Christian friends rather than partying with old acquaintances. Your old friends may have some cruel words to say to you, but don’t be discouraged. Witness to them and help them come to salvation through Christ.

“And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ” (1 Peter 3:13-16).

The word “conversation” is the King James way of saying “way of living.” If your life reflects Christ, don’t be ashamed, but show love and have answers for those who only mock Christ who lives in you. The first Christians faced violent persecution, but they would not deny Christ even if it meant death.

Brothers and sisters, the world is in a mess. This mess is caused by the evil workings of Satan. We represent Christ to this fallen world, and the new man needs to be put on and left on. Christ was crucified to purchase our redemption.

“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Romans 6:6).

Christians belong to Christ, and our sins that brought eternal death were nailed to the cross. Our salvation is secure when we accept Christ’s blood sacrifice.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one” (John 10:27-30).

That’s a very secure place to be. You can only show your appreciation by living for Christ.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

When you give your life to Christ, don’t let your past sin control your new life in Christ. Put off the old man and put on the new man. Live for Him who died for you.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

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Scripture gives many examples of mothers, and in the Book of Ruth, we see two women who hold a special place in history: Naomi, whose name means “my delight,” and Ruth, whose name means “friendship.” Both names fit these ladies perfectly. “Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons” (Ruth 1:1).

Naomi was married to a man named Elimelech, and they had two sons named Mahlon and Chilion. Although they owned property in Bethlehem, there was a drought that forced them to leave in order to find food. They moved to Moab where the famine wasn’t bad. Eventually, Elimelech died, and her two sons took care of her, so Naomi’s situation wasn’t desperate. Her sons married Moabite women who loved Naomi. Chilion married Orpah, and Mahlon married Ruth. Sadly, Chilion and Mahlon also died, and the three widows drew close together.

Naomi was in a troubling position. She had no means of support in Moab, so she needed to return to Bethlehem. Her husband had owned property there, but it would have to be redeemed by a kinsman (Leviticus 25:25). This is where her story gets exciting.

Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, and her two daughters-in-law, both Gentiles, decided to go with her. The younger women must have loved Naomi very much to leave their home to follow her. As they traveled, Naomi was concerned for Orpah and Ruth. It would be quite a change for them to leave their homes and start a new life in the Jewish culture. “And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me” (Ruth 1:8).

Naomi was loved by her daughters-in-law, but she loved them enough to encourage them to return to the life they knew. Even though they weren’t Jewish and didn’t worship God Almighty, she still asked His blessing upon them. “The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people” (Ruth 1:9-10). Naomi wanted Orpah and Ruth to remarry and raise a family. She wanted the best for them, but the two younger ladies didn’t want to leave their mother-in-law.

Naomi encouraged the younger women to return to their own city and culture in order to find husbands. “And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? Are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn again, my daughters, go your way for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; would ye tarry for them till they were grown? Would ye stay for them from having husbands? Nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me” (Ruth 1:11-13).

The younger women needed husbands and to have children. Naomi knew this, and even if they stayed with Naomi, hoping that she would remarry and give birth to more sons, it would be many years until those sons would be old enough to marry and provide for a family, according to the law of the Levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-10).

Orpah decided to return to her home, but Ruth stayed with Naomi. Naomi was concerned. “And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law” (Ruth 1:15). Instead of moving forward and learning to follow the God that Naomi followed, Orpah returned to her own people and to her own pagan gods. She had the chance to go with Naomi and learn of the one true God of all creation, but she chose to turn back. Sadly, she’s like too many people today. They have the opportunity to find salvation through Jesus Christ, but turn back to the gods they can’t let go of. Ruth made the better choice.

Ruth wouldn’t be persuaded to return to her old life. She chose to follow Naomi to Bethlehem. She wanted a better life and knew Naomi would lead her to it. “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me” (Ruth 1:16-17).

What a beautiful love Ruth had for Naomi. This decision would make a major mark on the history of the world. The way Naomi conducted her life was an example to Ruth of a better life by knowing the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As Christians, we need to represent Christ in such a way that the people around us will want to follow us to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Bethlehem was a small town, and people knew each other. Even after many years of absence, they remembered Naomi. Her husband, Elimelech, had a rather notorious family tree. When the Israelites were ready to conquer the Promised Land, their first battle was in Jericho. Rather than immediately attacking this city, they sent spies who accomplished very little other than make a way for the harlot Rahab to escape before the walls of Jericho came tumbling down. This woman went from the life of a harlot in an extremely pagan city to joining the Israelites and marrying Salmon. “And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab…” (Matthew 1:5a).

“Booz” and “Rachab” in this Scripture (translated from Greek) and “Boaz” and “Rahab” from the Old Testament are the same people. This is important to the story of Naomi and Ruth. “And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz” (Ruth 2:1). Jewish law provided for a kinsman redeemer (Leviticus 25:25). If a man was in debt or had to sell his property, someone in his family of a close relationship could pay his debt and redeem what had been lost. Naomi’s husband was a close kinsman to Boaz, so it was possible for him to redeem what Elimelech had lost.

Ruth learned from Naomi the ways of the Jewish community. They needed food, and Ruth said she would go to the field and glean what the reapers had left. As it turned out, she went to a field owned by Boaz. This was not a coincidence, but it was God’s hand leading her. While she was gleaning the grain, she caught Boaz’s eye, and he asked his foreman about her. Boaz learned she was the Moabitess who had returned to Bethlehem with Naomi. Boaz was a kindhearted man. He knew Naomi’s plight and admired how hard Ruth worked to put food on their table. He also might have been struck by her beauty.

Boaz told Ruth to only glean in his fields, that he had warned the young men to leave her alone, and that she had special privileges to get water to drink. Ruth was very thankful and humble for Boaz’s kindness and asked why he was so nice to her. “And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust” (Ruth 2:11-12).

Ruth worked hard, and Boaz was a good man who appreciated her. His kindness was extended even further. He invited her to eat with his workers, and also told his men to let her glean among the sheaves and let handfuls of the grain fall so she could get plenty. Welfare was not an option in Israel. Ruth worked hard for the grain, and Boaz made sure she got plenty.

Naomi was very happy when she found out all Boaz had done. She knew Boaz could redeem her husband’s property and that his interest in Ruth could result in marriage. Naomi was about to help the Gentile Ruth find a husband…a kinsman redeemer. Naomi didn’t encourage any improper behavior from Ruth, but helped her to show Boaz that she was willing to be his bride. Boaz was not only willing to marry Ruth but to also redeem the property. “And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I” (Ruth 3:12).

One of the requirements of a kinsman redeemer is that he must be willing. Boaz was willing, but there was one who was a closer relation and would be able to act if he was willing. As it turned out, the nearer kinsman was willing to redeem the property but wasn’t willing to marry Ruth. “And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi. Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day” (Ruth 4:9-10).

Ruth had made the right choice to follow Naomi rather than return to the pagan life in Moab. We aren’t told about Orpah’s life, but had she followed Naomi to Bethlehem, she would have been better off. She would have come to know the God of all creation and could have gotten a share of her husband’s property.

Boaz and Ruth did have children. “…and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; and Jesse begat David the king…” (Matthew 1:5b-6a). Ruth was the great-grandmother of King David and listed in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. What an honor! But, there’s more.

The events recorded give us a beautiful picture of Jesus. God first chose Israel, pictured by Naomi. It was through Naomi that Ruth, representing the Gentiles, met the kinsman redeemer, pictured by Boaz, who redeemed what Naomi had lost. Jesus is the ultimate Kinsman Redeemer. He was human because His mother was human and Mary’s ancestry was directly from King David, though not through the royal line. This qualified Him as our Kinsman. His adopted father, Joseph, also had ancestry through King David, but his line followed the royal line through Solomon. This qualifies Jesus to sit on the Throne of David.

Since Jesus had no earthly father (He was conceived by the Holy Spirit), His blood wasn’t tainted by the sin that cripples and condemns humans. This allows Him to Redeem us from sin. When we accept Christ’s sacrifice for salvation, we are redeemed, born again, and have a new life in Christ.

Naomi and Ruth are both mothers who honored God and found His blessings multiplied through their obedience. Mothers today need to follow their example and be Godly influences on their children. Even though we live in a fallen world in which Satan’s lies and evil intentions are all around, mothers need to lead by example.

Jesus Christ is greater than all evil, and He shed His blood for our redemption. Honor His sacrifice and live for Him daily.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.