Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Bride of Christ
Today’s Verse:
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 4:10
The Book of Ruth is one of the most touching and beautiful books of the Bible. Boaz is the kinsman redeemer who purchases the inheritance of Naomi and Ruth as his own. Ruth, who is a Moabite, is brought into the lineage of Elimelech and Boaz through his action as the kinsman redeemer. Ruth is a picture of the sinner brought into God’s family by grace. She is also a picture of the church, the bride of Christ.
We see a bride that is purchased.
“Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife.” Boaz made the necessary payment to purchase Ruth to be his wife. The church, the bride of Christ, is God’s purchased possession. Acts 20:28 tells us that the church was purchased with His own blood. Ephesians 5:25 tells us that Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. No one forced Boaz to be the kinsman redeemer. He chose to do so at the necessary cost. Jesus willingly laid down His life as the payment price for every sinner.
We see a bride that is purified.
After making his purchase, Boaz did all that was necessary for Ruth to present herself as his bride without spot or wrinkle. Jesus is preparing His church for presentation to Himself without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; that it should be holy and without blemish. Jesus sanctifies and cleanses His church through the washing of water by the Word. Ruth showed her willingness towards being a bride who is purified when she laid herself at the feet of Boaz and asked him to cover her with his skirt.
We see a bride that is preferred.
“And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.” Naomi was told that Ruth was better to her than seven sons that she could have given birth to. Saying that she was seven times better means she was preferred. The bride of Christ has a preferred relationship with our Lord and those who make up His church. Do you love the church enough to testify that it is seven times better than anything else you own or have a part in?
We see a bride that gives preeminence.
“And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.” The church is to give preeminence to Christ throughout the world. “From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised.” Jesus is the Head of the church, and in all things He should have the preeminence. The relationship of the bride to Christ is simple: it is all about Jesus!
We see a bride that propagates.
“So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.” The church is God’s means for bringing many sons to glory. Through soulwinning, evangelism, and church planting, the church is to bring forth many salvation decisions that will become disciples of Christ and help perpetuate the same. Christ loves His church and has a perfect will for it. Let us make sure that we are a glorious church that is holy and without blemish.
Have a glorifying God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Jeremiah 38-41
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