Category: Uncategorized (Page 9 of 9)

I am proud to announce our newest, dynamic, contributing author, Mrs. Angelica Kauhako. Angelica is woman who is passionate for the Lord. She was born and raised here, in Oahu. Along with being a born-again, Spirit-filled believer, Angelica is also a devoted, loving wife, mother, and, grandmother. She is a college graduate and holds certifications in substance abuse counseling. Angelica is dedicated to ministering to those women incarcerated here in Oahu. She has shared with me that one of her greatest passions is seeing others accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Please join me in extending a warm Aloha to Angelica…

  Have you ever wanted something so badly you were willing to look foolish to get it? How about wanting to get near someone? You’re on vacation and an article on page three of the local paper touts the new in restaurant. Not only for its gourmet food, but as enticing, its frequent celebrity sightings!

Perusing the article, you spot a name—No way, how cool is this…hey babe why don’t we…

Your favorite actor/actress/athlete/author frequents there often. Maybe, just maybe… Better make a reservation right away!

And so it was with Zacchaeus. An independently wealthy tax collector, perhaps an exporter of the notable Balsam resin traded in widely throughout his home town of Jericho. He has heard tell that Jesus would be making His way through His part of town and he just had to see him!

But how? You see He is quite literally, a physically short man, and with the crowds expected he would be easily overshadowed and swallowed up. I know—I’ll take to higher ground! And so he does what people do when we are truly willing to pay whatever the cost to find Jesus, he positioned himself  so not to miss Him. He looked around and saw a sycamore-fig tree, a thick hearty tree, sturdy in branch… this will surely hold my weight, so up he went!

We too must be willing to forsake all to grab hold of Christ.

Listen to how Joseph Campbell says it, “You must give up the life you planned to have the life that is waiting for you.”

Personally, I like to imagine that Zacchaeus had been keeping up with Jesus through all the various stories that had made their way to Jericho via the city travelers and traders. I can see him now, leaning in intently as he listens to one such traveler retelling what he had overheard Peter asking Jesus,

“We have forsaken all, and followed thee. What shall we have, therefore” (Matt.19:27)?

The disciples had just witnessed a rich young ruler walk away from a personal invitation to follow Jesus (Matt.19:22).

This was the first time Peter had heard Jesus make anyone such an offer. He’d heard Him speak to many people certainly, teaching, instructing and rebuking. Yet he couldn’t recollect ever hearing Jesus extend a personal invitation to follow Him outside of the one extended himself and his band of brothers.

Rich? A personal invitation to follow Jesus—not only did Zacchaeus recognize himself in these words, something inside of him stirred at the mere thought of being asked by Jesus to follow Him!

All the talk being spread about Jesus certainly indicated that He was the awaited Messiah, to the Jews that is, and Zacchaeus was proud to be known as Abraham’s son. Even though his own people despised him for his chosen profession of Chief Tax Collector. He too was learned in the Scriptures and the coming of Messiah—Is it possible that this is Him?

After everything He had heard, Zacchaeus set his heart to believe it was. And now He was here… look there, higher ground—I must go up! He could hear the voices of a multitudes in the near distance, and so up he climbed. He had no thought about what people may think of him nor of their snickering at his having to climb a tree to just maybe catch a glimpse of Jesus at all.

All that mattered to Zacchaeus was that He saw Jesus!

So let me ask you, has your heart ever burned the way Zacchaeus’ did to see God?

To catch a glimpse of Him as he passed by?

To hope against hope that He would see you?

Have you ever been so thirsty for just a taste of Him that you ran to a Bible, sat in a service, tuned into a podcast or just dropped to your knees and cried out for relief, for just one sip of the Water of His Word?

If so, you are in the perfect posture to be refreshed, as we will see in moment…

Was he imagining this? He heard a man below him say, “Zacchaeus come down immediately. I must stay at your house today” (Lk.19:5). What? Stay at my house—your talking to me? Now listen to the very next sentence in Scripture, “So he came down at once and welcomed Him gladly” (Lk. 19:6).

Just two weeks ago we saw the Prodigal Son show this same posture of the heart. One remembered the love of his estranged Father, and one has just heard His loving call. Both lives transformed. With Zacchaeus, the Bible said, he came at once and with the Prodigal it states, He got up and went to his Father (Lk.15:18).

Contrast this to the Rich Young ruler who received a Divine invitation to follow Jesus, yet turned and walked away because leaving behind His lifestyle and possessions was too high a cost to pay to follow Jesus (Mat.19:22). There are many in today’s world whom Jesus is calling to follow Him also.

Their answer too often—can I come tomorrow maybe, I just made plans to…tomorrow would be better for me.

I would love to follow you, I’ve heard so much about you, but I can’t leave my job, family, friends—stuff… can I catch up with you later?

His Word says, “Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion”(Heb.3:15).

Studies show that the average person makes approximately 35,000 decisions, great and small, daily. But just as Jesus told Martha that her sister Mary had chosen the better portion, (to sit with Him and listen to Him teach instead of continuing to hurry about) we two, when faced with the decision to accept Jesus’ invitation to follow Him, must choose what we will do (Lk.10:42).

And if we choose wisely, we may here as Zacchaeus did, “I must stay at your house”. In other words, I’ll abide in you and you in me, because that is the ONLY way you will ever truly flourish.

Let’s turn back to Zacchaeus…

He’s in the crook of the tree, eyes glued to the approaching crowd. Watch what happened once he met Jesus face to face. The very next leg of his conversation is a declaration of repentance. He openly declares his intentions to live righteously, thus putting on display his repentant heart. Remember we have just seen this self-same heart mirrored to us through the prodigal son.

True repentance. There is no other posture for the heart after having had a genuine encounter with Jesus!

Draw closer, Zacchaeus is inviting us to sit at his table and witness him confess his need for Jesus, “But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount” (Lk. 19:8).

There will always be those who simply follow the crowd merely to be able to tell-tales of their exploits—yes I’m a Christian too, and yes, I was there the day… Today was no different.

But it is the those with a heart like that of Zacchaeus’ that the Lord seeks.

He’s here with me—Jesus himself called me down from the tree, I must, I must…ah yes, a gift.

All this time has passed and still the crowd that followed along remain just outside his opened door—scrutinizing. Jesus doesn’t feel that he has in any way demeaning himself by spending time with this humble, repentant new friend. Quite the contrary in fact, He came specifically to meet Zacchaeus and Zacchaeus had heard Jesus was coming and he immediately postured himself to make certain he didn’t miss out on the opportunity to see and hopefully, be seen by Him.

What are you doing in your life today to make sure that if Jesus were walking around in your neighborhood, you wouldn’t miss Him?

Would you be willing to climb a tree if need be?

How about appear foolish in the eyes of those around you that you may gain Christ?

I’ll leave you with the Words spoken by Jesus to all within earshot that day—These same Words echo still across the generations. And Jesus said to him,“Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Lk.19:9-10).

A Sheep, A coin, A lost son… the sons of Abraham. Jesus left His Throne in Heaven, wrapped Himself in flesh, and stepped across time and eternity to willingly lay His very life down. But not until that life had been beaten and scourged beyond recognition, until it had been spat upon, betrayed, cursed, and abandoned by those He came to tell—I must stay at your house today.

“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Zacchaeus’ answer?

A speedy… whatever it takes!

What will yours be?

 

    “When brothers live together and one of them dies and has no son…”

Naomi’s motherly instincts seem to be well honed. She has been a witness to Ruth’s joy and lightheartedness leaving no doubt how it is that Ruth feels toward Boaz. Maybe it was the glint in Ruth’s eye back in verse 21 of our last chapter that was the last tell. Perhaps within that revealing moment any doubt or reservation Naomi had about this friendship moving forward is quelled. Let’s listen in shall we, “Also mother, Boaz said, ‘You shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’” “Doesn’t that mean he enjoys my presence more, that he seeks to protect my honor?” Yes, thought Naomi, “I recognized the look of a young woman enamored.” Yet Naomi being a woman of integrity and character, knew that Boaz too was an upright and serious-minded man of valor…and Ruth, a fine women of restraint and the greatest integrity. She knew also; neither would take the next step necessary for this kinsman redeemer to satisfy his duty to her son’s name and provide stability and a home for Ruth. Look at one role of a kinsman redeemer spoken of in Deuteronomy 25:5-6, this will better inform us of what it is Naomi is arbitrating for. “When brothers live together and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the deceased shall not be married outside the family to a strange man. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her and take her to himself as wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. “It shall be that the firstborn whom she bears shall assume the name of his dead brother, so that his name may not be blotted out of Israel.”

“For everyone who will humble themselves and cry out to Him for salvation…”

Now we understand the role Boaz was to play. Remember back in Chapter One where we read that Naomi’s husband and both sons died? There wasn’t another brother for Ruth to marry and carry on her husband’s line. Hence, her need, their need if fact, of this particular kinsman redeemer. Similarly, we need the One True God, Jesus the Christ who shed His Sinless Blood for our redemption. No other god could ever afford us restoration to Father God. Only Jesus Christ paid our sin debt in full with the laying down of His Guiltless Life. “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved” Acts 4:12. The fuller meaning of kinsman redeemer is found in the Pentateuch (First 5 Books of the Bible) 1.) A male relative who is willing to assume the duty and responsibilities of marriage. 2.) He may also act on the others behalf in times of trouble, 3.) Or for vindication or 4.) To intercede for a need. Again we see Boaz as the allusion of Christ, our kinsman redeemer in the betrothal of Boaz and Ruth. Boaz ultimately brings about renewal to the life of this young proselyte through his crucial care, protection, and provision. As Christ brings about and provides for everyone who will humble themselves and cry out to Him for New Life in Him. “So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart…”

God our Father pours out His love, care, protection, provision and final restoration to Himself through His Only Son our Lord, Jesus Christ. Jesus restores us to right standing and relationship with the Father as Boaz will restore all that Ruth has lost through the death of her husband, and give her right-standing in the community she will be folded into, the family of the One True God. Naomi expresses to her daughter-in-law that she believes it best to find her a home where she will be well provided for. In this verse, home in Hebrew is used here, as rest. This is the second time in this Book we hear this term, rest. The first being found back in chapter where Naomi is trying to persuade both of her daughters-in-law to turn back in the hopes they would find rest (security) in the house of a future husband. Let us be reminded of the type of rest referred to here. Jesus spoke of it in Matthew’s Gospel, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you REST… surety, security. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and You will find REST for your souls” (Matthew 11:28). Again Naomi is seeking the very best for her beloved daughter-in-law. Marriage to Boaz would certainly fulfill the law, and would afford Ruth a very comfortable life with potential heirs for herself…

“You shall not muzzle an Ox will it is treading out the grain”

Verse two has Naomi name dropping. She tells Ruth tonight Boaz will be willowing barley on the threshing floor. Let me explain… a threshing floor is a flat solid stone surface where the gathered grain is laid in stalks. It is either beaten manually with a flail, a stick of sorts, or an ox treads it under his hooves to separate the edible grain from the chafe. Hence, the verse, “You shall not muzzle an Ox while it is treading out the grain” (Deuteronomy 25:4). As told to Ruth, Boaz will be at the threshing floor tonight working and taking a meal and some wine with his workers. Naomi instructs Ruth to wash, perfume herself, put on her best clothes and head down to the threshing floor. There’s a but coming however… “But, don’t let him know you are there until he is finished eating and drinking”. She tells Ruth to pay attention to where he lays down to rest and then go and, “uncover his feet and lie down.” She states that Boaz will tell her what to do from there. To modern civilities this may sound like a rather objectionable or perhaps even lascivious act for Naomi to instruct Ruth in. However, if we were familiar with Eastern culture we would find this very act still practiced to this day. When Jewish couples marry, custom has t that the husband places the corner of his shawl over his wife to signify that he is covering her for life. In ancient times servant and master, slept clothed in what they would wear in the morrow. Being clothed is meant to quell any hint of indecency or immoral behavior should anyone happen upon them, particularly a woman.

“Ruth represents the Church and Boaz the allusion of Messiah.”

So you see, Naomi unquestionably was looking after the reputations Boaz and Ruth. So much so, that she instructed Ruth to be both courteous and discrete in allowing Boaz to finish eating and drinking and retire to the grain pile. Ruth does as she was instructed and lays at the feet of Boaz. Scripture tells us he woke startled in the middle of the night and realized Ruth was there. She asked him to cover her, she is saying plainly, boldly,” take me as your wife, for I am a widow.” And so he does. Christ too, covers us with His Wing, “And when I passed by again, I saw that you were old enough for love. So I wrapped my cloak around you to cover your nakedness and declared my marriage vows. I made a covenant with you, says the Sovereign LORD, and you became mine.” (Ezekiel 16:8) Ruth was a proselyte to the one true religion, Judaism. In asking Boaz to cover her, protect her, take her as His own, she was in fact, asking the same of Christ. Remember, Ruth represents the Church and Boaz the allusion of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. In chapter one Ruth vowed before man and God that she would not only follow Naomi but that her God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would now be Ruth’s own. Isn’t that what we as followers of Christ are asking of Him as well? To love us, forgive us, cover us and defend us always, until He returns for us, His Bride? And as it is with the Lord, so it was mirrored in Boaz.

“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace.”

He tells Ruth to wait for him, clarifying there is perhaps a kinsman redeemer closer to her than himself. He will go at first light to inquire of him. Boaz will not allow for any impropriety when it comes to Ruth, it will be Gods way or no way, decency and in order. He knew if Ruth was truly meant for Him the other kinsman would refuse her. But He leaves Ruth with an assurance, “because this kindness you have shown me is far greater than your last, I will do what you ask of me, as surely as the Lord lives.” He is over-joyed and humbled that Ruth has chosen him over a younger man, rich or poor. He tells her to leave the threshing floor before first light to save her reputation from those who might think mistakenly toward her. He sends her to await the outcome of her fate back where she started, beside Naomi. But being the kindhearted, generous man that he is, Boaz favors Ruth with 6 measures of barley to take home in her shawl, about six handfuls… Ruth now awaits her fate. She will most assuredly be a bride soon; the only question is to whom? Naomi is now vindicated in her own eyes, Ruth’s and most likely Boaz’ as well. This bold move she had suggested to her daughter-in-law has proved fruitful for each of them. She assures Ruth that Boaz will not rest until he has this matter settled…that very day! Just as Boaz would not rest until he had an answer for his beloved, so is God with His children. And like Ruth in her boldness to approach Boaz, so too must we as His Children, must go boldly to Our Father with our every need and request. I will turn back here and leave you with the Word spoken in Hebrews, “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15, Emphasis added.