In the celebrity-obsessed culture we have today people want to be noticed above all else. Indeed, surveys continue to tell us that our young people desire careers that will thrust them into the limelight over just about anything else. We want to be noticed. Perhaps this stems from our creation and bearing the image of God. Our first parents were created to be in relationship with God constantly. Adam and Eve were noticed by God. Once, however, sin enters the picture and the relationship is fractured, Adam and Eve no longer felt noticed and thus humanity has been doing things to get noticed ever since. We have forgotten (if we ever knew) that God is omnipresent and always notices us. We do not need the notice of others on a grand scale, so long as we know we are grandly noticed by God. This makes interactions like the one we have this week between Ruth and Boaz much more important. Ruth is not worried about being noticed, but Boaz notices her and then intervenes in her life.
"Then Boaz said to Ruth, 'Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.' " -Ruth 2:8-9 ESV
Boaz implores Ruth to stay in his field. Wandering away from the field will put Ruth, and thus Naomi, into potential peril. He has noticed Ruth and now takes steps to safeguard her. God is much the same way in our lives. As you may recall Boaz emerges on the scene and notices Ruth right away, but in this passage he intervenes in her life. God has always noticed you and intervenes in your life at just the right time to keep you in his care. God can and does orchestrate events and people to provide for you and to protect you--even and perhaps especially in the midst of pain and suffering. As Christians we are instructed to remain in God's field, the field of His care for us in Christ. There the Lord promises us provision for our great need for Him including living water and the bread of life--Christ Jesus himself.
"Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, 'Why
have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me,
since I am a foreigner?' But Boaz answered her, 'All that you have done
for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully
told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land
and came to a people that you did not know before. The LORD repay you
for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the
God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!' " -Ruth 2:10-12 ESV
When Ruth comes to know she is noticed by the words of Boaz, she is overwhelmed. This happens to us to when we come to know that God has noticed us. It is not to say that we went beyond His noticing, but that at just the right time we come to know of it. Like David in Psalm 8:4, Ruth cannot fathom why Boaz would take note of her. Her status as a Moabite would have disqualified her in any other place and culture from the mercy of these foreign hosts, yet in God's field she receives mercy. Boaz quickly notes that Ruth has done the work of true Israelite and even goes so far as to invoke the God of Israel to bless and reward her because she has taken refuge under His wings. Ruth has been noticed not only by Boaz, but by God Himself. Indeed, may we all be noticed for the good we do for others.
"Then she said, 'I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have
comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of
your servants.' " -Ruth 2:13 ESV
Being noticed and knowing we have been noticed has a way of giving comfort. Celebrity is not the real noticing we want or need. We need to know that God notices and that knowing often comes from the way we comfort one another in trying times.
News for You:
A Memorial Service for Dave Hellyer will be held Saturday, 10/28 at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Omak.
This Sunday we will forgo our regular evening service to join Our Savior Lutheran Church at 4 p.m. for an international service of worship to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Rerformation.
CPC is seeking to fill our church secretary position. A
successful candidate will be proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel with
experience in database programs. The position will be 25 hours per week
(9-12, 1-3) Monday-Friday. Applications can be obtained at the church
office. Call the church office for more information.
Youth Group Meals are needed. Our middle and high school
youth group meets at Kurt and Jennifer Fudge's house at 6 p.m. The youth
group shares a family style meal, a devotion and activities. Be part of
the joy by getting involved.
CPC's annual Trunk-or-Treat will be October 31 from 5-7 p.m. There are many ways to get involved:
Bring candy and your decorated vehicle to the church parking lot by 4:30 p.m. and provide some joy and community
Donate bags of candy to the church (we had over 400 kids last year, so we went through a LOT of candy)
Volunteer to help cook hot dogs or donate funds to help purchase hot dogs/buns.
Provide portable lighting to help light up the parking lot
Operation Christmas Childboxes are available starting next week at CPC. The deadline to submit boxes will be Sunday, 11/12.
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