Yesterday’s aquafit class was independent, which means we had no instructor. Those mornings are a combination workout/social time. Everyone works out and stays moving, but the pace is much slower, and we visit more.
As I visited people around the pool, I was reminded of how diverse our class is, background-wise. The group is about 60% Caucasian and 40% South Asian, East Asian, Middle Eastern and African. Some are Christians. Some are not. Even the Christian group is diverse in denominational affiliation, theology and the circumstances of when and how they became believers.
As I pondered that fact, my mind wandered back to an account in the Old Testament. You’re all likely familiar with the story of Ruth, the Moabite woman who married into an Israelite family. It’s worth rereading; it’s only four chapters.
Ruth’s father-in-law and husband die, and her mother-in-law Naomi, unable to care for her, tells her to go back to her own people. Instead, she chooses to stay, look after her mother-in-law, and worship the God of Israel. In a remarkable redemption story, a relative marries her, and she eventually becomes part of the lineage of Jesus.
That whole story is astounding. We see her faithfulness and God’s faithfulness. A non-Jew in the line that produced Jesus reminds us of God’s faithfulness to all people.
What you might not remember is that Boaz was in the line of Rahab the prostitute from Jericho. We find that tidbit in the genealogy of Jesus listed in Matthew’s gospel.
…and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah… Matthew 1:5-6 ESV
Jesus’ earthly family came from a line that included a woman who was a Moabite, a hated tribe of people of mixed heritage, Israelite and non-Israelite. The husband was a descendant of a non-Israelite prostitute.
Both Boaz and Ruth were believers even though non-Israelite in heritage. The Lord calls people of all cultures, backgrounds and skin tones to come to Him. In that way, it’s a totally inclusive faith.
God knows where you come from and what you have done and still wants to redeem you. His people sometimes forget that. Jonah gets angry at God for saving the people of Nineveh. Saul of Tarsus persecuted, killed and imprisoned Christians before becoming a believer, operating under the understanding that he was doing God’s work. We know from stories or by experience that the people of the church can be as bigoted and unforgiving as non-believers at times.
Don’t look at the people of the church; look to Jesus to see how inclusive we are to be. Any person in that pool could open their heart to Him. No one is beyond the redemptive power of the Lord.
Praise His name.
Kevin
SUMMARY
As I pondered how diverse my aquafit class is, my mind wandered back to Ruth, a Moabite woman in the family line of Jesus. Her story reminds me that no one is beyond the redemptive power of the Lord.
TAKEAWAY
God knows where you come from and what you have done, and He still wants to redeem you.
Ruth the Moabite and Rahab of Jericho are both in the line of Jesus. The Lord calls people of all cultures, backgrounds and skin tones to come to Him, and that includes you.
God’s people can be as bigoted and unforgiving as non-believers, like Jonah angry over Nineveh. Don’t look at them; look to Jesus to see how inclusive you are to be.