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NOT HOME YET
Travis Fox • Jan 10, 2024
NOT HOME YET
After moving to Lexington, a man asked where I was from. I told him that my family and I moved here from Las Vegas, NV. He replied, "I guess we won't hold that against you." I laughed, but wondered if he was serious. Since that time, I have also had someone tell me,
You'll never be truly accepted here; you will always be an outsider. That was when the nagging reality sank in. I don't belong here.
Sitting in my office, I wondered why these two conversations were etched in my memory. Sure, they were unkind, but they also caused my heart to ache. And the ache I felt wasn't from the comments but the realization that I am an outsider
anywhere in this world. Why is that? Well, this world is not my home.
As a Christian, Lexington, Kentucky is not my home, and if you are in Christ, it is not your home either. Hebrews 13:14 says, "For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come." As followers of Jesus, we are citizens of "the city that is to come" by his grace. There is truly no place in which you and I should feel so content that we don't recognize this more excellent citizenship we've been gifted. Christian, you are not home yet!
So how are we to live now? Great question! You and I are not to be so heavenly-minded that we are of no earthly good. Paul says, "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20). An ambassador represents a nation and its values to another country. Since you and I, who are in Christ, are citizens of God's kingdom, we are to live out those values as ambassadors while proclaiming the gospel's message in this earthly one.
You see, we may not yet reside in that "city to come," but we can engage in the work of that kingdom in this world. What you and I do on Monday at work, how we cultivate our homes, and how we interact with others in our neighborhoods should reflect God's kingdom values to those in this earthly kingdom. For what reason? So that they, too, can become ambassadors and citizens of this eternal kingdom by the grace of God!
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3) For many of you, this is a very busy season of the year – the school year is ending and end-of-the year parties are on the calendar, graduations are coming up and there are gifts to give and celebrations to enjoy, several big weddings are also on the horizon which requires another batch of gifts and happy events, summer camps to schedule, kids’ sports teams to coach, a family vacation to plan – along with your “normal” life. Our calendars quickly fill with events and obligations we had forgotten, or perhaps didn’t even know we had. This can easily overwhelm and rob us of our peace. Many people thrive on the excitement, the social life, the filled-up-to-overflowing calendar, the running from one event to another. For others, this busy-ness saps their energy and robs them of joy and peace. For both groups of people, stress can come from unrealistic expectations, precarious relationships, or experiencing many of the “firsts” without a loved one. For those who struggle with finding peace in hectic times, it may seem like those who thrive on this busy- ness possess a super-power that the others missed out on. And then, even wondering why you don’t thrive like others during this season can bring its own stress. During any unusually busy season, we all have to guard against the little things that have a way of becoming bigger things and robbing us of our peace. The prophet Isaiah who identified the Messiah, amongst other titles, as the Prince of Peace tells us that the secret to lasting peace is to keep our mind stayed on Jesus. The apostle Paul tells us that His peace surpasses our understanding (Philippians 4:7). If you find yourself stressed and in search of peace, take a few moments to anchor yourself in the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) to remember the peace He has left us (John 14:27), and to yield yourself to the work of His Spirit to bear the fruit of peace in your life (Galatians 5:22-23). If you encounter someone who is lacking peace, will you accept the challenge to extend to them the grace and peace that has been freely and abundantly shared with you by the Prince of Peace? Shalom. By Jesse Smith
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 ASV) In this familiar text, the prophet Isaiah identifies the coming Messiah as the Prince of Peace. I suspect that our familiarity with this passage leads us to read these words without taking time to consider their meaning. So, let’s take a few moments to consider what it means that He is the Prince of Peace. To say that Messiah is the Prince of Peace, is to identify him as the sovereign of the kingdom of peace. As the ruler of this kingdom, He is the source and ruler of peace. This is not a peace that simply represents the absence of conflict, or a run of good days, or prosperity, or any of the other ways that our culture might define peace. This is genuine, lasting peace. This is the peace of which Jesus spoke to His disciples on the night before his crucifixion: Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid (John 14:27). He is this peace. So how, in the midst of a world of strife on every hand, can folks like you and me experience this peace? I think that answer is found in how Paul addressed the early church in his writing to the churches of his day. His greeting routinely includes the following or similar words: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:2). You will find this same greeting in Galatians 1:3, Philippians 1:2, Colossians 1:2, 1 Thessalonians 1:1, and 2 Thessalonians 1:2. If the Apostle Paul felt it important to routinely include this in his greetings to the early churches, I would suggest that the words convey something important. Not only the words, but the order of the words conveys a great truth. The path to His peace is found in first experiencing His grace. There is simply no way to experience true and lasting peace outside of the grace found in the Prince of Peace. If you find yourself lacking peace, what about the Prince of Peace? He has done all that is required to redeem you and bring you true peace. By Jesse Smith
And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself; and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thy handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thy handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman. And he said, Blessed be thou of Jehovah, my daughter: thou hast showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou sayest; for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a worthy woman. And now it is true that I am a near kinsman; howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. (Ruth 3:8-12 ASV) Boaz awoke from sleep to find Ruth lying at his feet as she had been instructed by her mother-in-law, Naomi. It is here that Ruth identified herself as his handmaid and asked for his covering. She is proposing that he marry her. This practice is consistent with the customs surrounding the practice of the levirate marriage, where a childless widow would make a claim on her deceased husband’s brother. In the case of the levirate marriage the brother was obligated to take the widow as his wife, or else face public humiliation and dishonor amongst the Israelites (Deuteronomy 25:7-10). While Boaz was a kinsman of Ruth and Naomi, he was not a brother of Ruth’s deceased husband; so, he was not bound by the law of Deuteronomy 25 to marry Ruth. Boaz’s decision to marry Ruth and fulfill the rights of a kinsman-redeemer was a free choice, an expression of favor, even an act of grace shown to Ruth. Boaz’s actions were a choice to redeem every area of Ruth’s life. Actions which would give her hope and a future. Actions that would allow her to experience peace in all areas of her life. Boaz is a picture for us of The Redeemer who would one day come from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). This One born of the house of David (the great grandson of Boaz and Ruth) would arise to pay the price for our redemption and extend to us His gifts of grace and peace. By Jesse Smith
Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the threshing-floor, but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do. And she said unto her, All that thou sayest I will do. (Ruth 3:3-5 ASV) These instructions are peculiar to us – and no doubt unexpected. In short, Naomi is instructing Ruth to go find Boaz at the threshing floor, wait till he is asleep, lie down at his feet, and wait on Boaz to give her further instructions. These are peculiar to us because we don’t have any experience with the laws and customs of the ancient Israelites – and probably also peculiar to Ruth, a foreigner not familiar with the Jewish laws and customs to which Naomi was making an appeal. When I read this passage, my thinking is drawn to the last part of verse 5: All that thou sayest I will do. Even though the instructions were a bit unexpected and confusing, Ruth trusted Naomi enough to follow. That level of trust is based on their relationship, the genuine concern that Ruth understood Namoi had for her. As the remainder of this little book unfolds, we see the results of Ruth’s decision to act on the instructions she had, even though she didn’t have all the details. What do you do when you have the instruction, but you don’t know how it’s all going to work out? One of the ways we find peace in our walk of faith is to follow God even when we don’t have all the answers. This is not an invitation to be reckless or to follow every little fad; there is a proper time for counting the cost (Luke 14:25-33) before we launch out in a new direction. But the cost counting must be balanced against the fear of what we don’t know – a fear that paralyzes us and leads us to bury our talents in the ground (Matthew 25:14-30). We are called to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). How is the Lord leading you, and are you waiting for some answers that would make you more comfortable? What is that instruction that you think must surely be for someone else? How limited is your experience of His abundant life because you aren’t willing to answer the call until you have all the answers? By Jesse Smith
And Naomi her mother-in-law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? And now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley tonight in the threshing-floor. (Ruth 3:1-2 ASV) Naomi and Ruth are now in Bethlehem, surviving on the grain Ruth is able to glean from the fields of Boaz. It is in this setting that Naomi expresses her concern for Ruth’s welfare, that she might find rest. The idea of rest here has to do with Ruth’s well-being – with the experience of rest in every aspect of life – and echoes the Hebrew understanding of shalom (peace). Naomi has taken note of the favor which Boaz has already shown Ruth in having his men leave her extra, good grain as she gleaned grain in his fields. So, she says to Ruth: What about Boaz? You do realize that he is our kinsman, don’t you? There are two Jewish laws that form the background for what Naomi will suggest to Ruth in the coming verses. The first of these is the law of the kinsman redeemer found in Leviticus 25. If an Israelite fell into poverty and sold his land or even himself into slavery, a near relative had the right to redeem – or buy back – both the person and his property. The word translated kinsman in reference to Boaz in this passage is the same word used for the redeemer in Leviticus 25. The second of these Jewish laws is that of the levirate marriage found in Deuteronomy 25. This law provided for redeeming the posterity of a brother who had died and left his widow childless. The widow could claim one of her deceased husband’s brothers to marry her and provide an heir to carry on the family line. Naomi understood that Boaz was in a position to provide a covering for Ruth, to redeem all of the things that looked bleak in her life and about her future. She also understood that the next move belonged to Ruth, that Boaz was not going to react until Ruth went to him and asked for his covering. Much like Ruth, we often wander in a foreign land trying to make it on what we can glean on our own; and all the while there is a Redeemer in waiting. He is able, ready, and willing to provide His covering, His covenant of grace in which we find peace and provision for every area of life. If you find yourself without peace, or in desperate circumstances you’re trying to navigate on your own, have you considered Jesus? He is our Redeemer. By Jesse Smith
I woke up around 2:00 in the morning thinking about my first love, Norman. My family was stationed by the Navy in Kingsville, Texas. I was eight. He was a handsome young man although a bit of a pest, but my young heart loved him. We were going to be married! A year later, my dad was transferred to San Diego California. Goodbye Norman. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV) I love that Jehovah Rohi (the Lord is my Shepherd) has thoughts and plans for me. I realize now that the journey of planning that I began at age eight really set the stage for the plans of my life. When I was young, I had what I imagine are normal plans: plans to go to college, start my career, fall in love, get married and have children. Later, I made more strategic plans than I dreamed. Plans born from responsibilities that promoted growth, success, and security. There have been times in my life too where my dreams were silenced by the trials of life through great tragedy, loss, and grief. I became a Christian at age eleven. I have been praying for God's plans to be revealed my whole life. However, many of the plans that developed have mostly been my plans, ideally supported by Him. Sometimes while waiting on a plan, you can become convinced that your plan is His plan. Waiting for Jehovah Jireh’s (the Lord provides) plan takes patience and a truly seeking heart. You might think, what is the point of having a good head on your shoulders, being intelligent and sensible if you don’t make good use of it? I don’t think God wants us not to be planners. I just think because He is so much greater than us, why wouldn’t we seek His plan? We are talking about the Creator of the universe here. He knows how many hairs I have on my head! He can help me every step of the way toward my future. Despite good, bad, or ugly planning, my life has been amazing; and I have seen the evidence of God in it literally everywhere, every day. The moral of this story is, young or old it is never too late to take a pause on your planning and ask God to reveal the thoughts that He thinks of you! Move toward the life that He plans for you in 2024! You won’t regret it! By Kimberly Pope
At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?” (Ruth 2:10) We are naturally attracted to people who seem to be like us. For example, church congregations are very often characterized by a single race, similar socio-economic level, a common age-level, or worship- style preference. I must admit that I normally feel uncomfortable being in the minority in any social setting. But this is not what we should expect in our heavenly home, where there will be a great diversity of saints. Ruth was from the land of Moab, a neighboring nation of Israel situated along the eastern border of the Dead Sea. During most of Israel’s history, the Moabites were Israel’s enemies. Ruth married Mahlon, one of the two sons of Elimelech and Naomi. After emigrating from Judah to Moab, Elimelech and the two sons died, leaving Naomi and the sons’ two wives as widows. While Orpah, Ruth’s sister-in-law, chose to remain in her native land of Moab when Naomi decided to return to Judah, Ruth insisted on staying with Naomi. By going with Naomi to Bethlehem in Judah, Ruth was showing her loyalty and love for her mother-in- law, Naomi. She could have remained in Moab, returned to her mother’s home, and eventually remarried. But her decision to stay with Naomi also revealed her decision to make Naomi’s people -- the Israelites – to be her people and the God of Israel to be her God. None of this escaped the notice of Boaz, who recognized the great sacrifice Ruth was making to immigrate to Judah. So, he was determined to show his admiration for Ruth by extending exceedingly great kindness to her. Despite her being a Moabitess, he now considered Ruth to be like one of them. Boaz's inclusivity challenges cultural norms and reminds us of God's desire for inclusivity within His family. As followers of Christ, we are called to embrace a love that transcends cultural and societal boundaries. Ruth's story challenges us to examine our own hearts. Are we embracing God’s plan of diversity, or are there prejudices that hinder genuine love? The foreignness of Ruth did not deter Boaz from showing kindness and favor. Similarly, God calls us to see beyond external differences and to love one another as members of His diverse family. God's inclusivity is evident in His redemptive plan for humanity. He invites people from every nation, tribe, and tongue into His family. Ruth's story teaches us that love knows no cultural or ethnic bounds. As we follow Christ, may our hearts be open to all, recognizing the inherent value in each person. By Jim Connell Jim is the founder and retired director of Lexington Rescue Mission and the author of JesusIsLordBlog.com.
In the unfolding narrative from Ruth, we witness a beautiful mix of gratitude and humility in response to Boaz’s love. Ruth's journey from a foreigner gleaning in the fields to the recipient of Boaz's extraordinary kindness reveals a profound lesson on how we should respond to unexpected and undeserved love, both in our earthly relationships and in our relationship with God. Ruth, having committed herself to Naomi and embarked on a humble endeavor to glean in the fields for their sustenance, encounters the love of Boaz. His kindness goes beyond the expected, ensuring her safety, abundance in gleaning, and even instructing his workers to intentionally leave extra grain for her. Ruth's reaction is noteworthy and serves as a model for our response to the love extended to us. Ruth's gratitude is evident in her astonishment at Boaz's kindness. In Ruth 2:10, she asks, "Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?" Her response is marked by humility, acknowledging the unexpected and undeserved favor bestowed upon her. Gratitude is an essential component of our response to love. It recognizes the goodness of the giver and acknowledges that the love received surpasses what could be earned or expected. As Ruth did not forget Boaz's generosity, our gratitude toward God should be an ongoing response, remembering and acknowledging His lavish love, mercy, and grace poured out on us. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits. (Psalm 103:2) Ruth's humility is reflected in her actions. Instead of boasting or presuming upon Boaz's kindness, she humbly asks how she has found such favor. Humility recognizes our unworthiness in the face of love. It guards against entitlement and fosters a posture of reverence and awe. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:10) Just as Ruth's humility positioned her for greater blessings, our humility before God opens the way for His pouring out His lavish love into our lives. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. (Psalm 25:9 NIV) If you're humble, God will bless you. These promises are all through Scripture, like Isaiah 66:2: This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. The story of Ruth and Boaz serves as a metaphor for our relationship with God. God's love is lavish, exceeding all expectations, and is extended to us in our unworthiness. In response to this lavish love, our gratitude should be ceaseless and our humility profound. We must continually remember and acknowledge God's love for us, guarding against any sense of entitlement and boasting. By Jim Connell Jim is the founder and retired director of Lexington Rescue Mission and the author of JesusIsLordBlog.com.
So Boaz said to Ruth, “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me. Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.” (Ruth 2:8-9) Boaz's generosity and kindness toward Ruth exemplify a compassionate love that goes beyond societal expectations. His actions teach us not just about meeting basic requirements but about exceeding them—about going above and beyond to bless others. In our interactions with others, God calls us to be generous and kind. Boaz's example challenges us to examine the depth of our generosity. Are we willing to go the extra mile in extending kindness and generosity to those around us? Do we limit our generosity to the bare minimum, or are we open-handed with our blessings? Generosity, as exemplified by Boaz, involves not only material provisions but also a generosity of spirit—a kindness that transcends societal norms. Boaz's actions serve as a reminder that love is not merely about meeting expectations; it's about going above and beyond, reflecting the lavish love that God has shown us. As Christians, God calls us to love others by meeting their needs. Ruth was in a tenuous situation as a stranger and foreigner who was gleaning in someone else’s field. How would she be treated by the owner or the servants of that owner, none of whom she knew or who knew her? She could have been overlooked, neglected, or even subject to abuse. Since she was unknown, would anyone think they owed her anything? Yet Boaz, having been told by his foreman all that Ruth had done for her mother-in-law, showed her great favor and pronounced a blessing on her: “May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge” (Ruth 2:12). And Boaz’s kindness toward Ruth reflected his concern and care for her. Boaz's generosity toward Ruth reflects the biblical principle of giving, as emphasized by Jesus in Luke 6:38: "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Boaz goes beyond the expected, and his actions align with the teaching that generous giving results in abundance. By Jim Connell Jim is the founder and retired director of Lexington Rescue Mission and the author of JesusIsLordBlog.com.
And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor." (Ruth 2:2) Ruth's initiative and diligence in gleaning from the fields speak to us as a powerful lesson in taking ownership of our responsibilities. Her proactive approach to providing for herself and Naomi goes beyond a passive reliance on others—it demonstrates initiative and diligence. Ruth took the initiative to do what she knew to do, so she could provide for Naomi and herself. The story presents a wonderful picture of Ruth, the Moabitess, finding favor with Boaz. Boaz generously gave her permission to glean in his field. She gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned. (Ruth 2:17) Proverbs 10:4 affirms the principle that lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth. Ruth's decision to glean reflects not only a commitment to providing for herself and Naomi but also a diligent work ethic that seeks to make the most of available opportunities. Gleaning was the practice of going into a recently harvested field and picking up whatever grain remained. God commanded Israel in Leviticus 19:9-10 to deliberately leave some behind for the poor and needy of the land to get food. Ruth worked hard, and she worked all day long. It wasn’t easy to follow the reapers of the harvest and carefully search for every remaining stalk of grain, carefully picking up even the small pieces left behind. It was work that demanded a lot of focus, attention, and searching. Boaz, the field owner, quickly notices Ruth's diligent efforts and goes beyond mere acknowledgment; he actively ensures her safety, instructs his workers to leave extra grain for her, and even invites her to drink from the water jars. Boaz's response mirrors the biblical principle found in Colossians 3:23-24, encouraging believers to work as if working for the Lord. Boaz recognizes Ruth's integrity and diligence, and his response reflects the honor accorded to those who work with excellence and sincerity. Ruth's work ethic aligns with biblical principles and becomes a powerful testament to the honor and recognition bestowed upon those who approach work with integrity, diligence, and a heart that trusts in God. Boaz's response and God's providential care underscore the biblical truth that work, when conducted with excellence and faith, becomes a channel through which God's favor and blessings flow. Ruth's story challenges believers to embrace a work ethic that not only contributes to personal well- being but also reflects a commitment to God's principles in the workplace. Are we approaching our responsibilities with diligence, trusting that God sees and acknowledges our efforts? By Jim Connell Jim is the founder and retired director of Lexington Rescue Mission and the author of JesusIsLordBlog.com.
