Archive for category: GAMEtime Sharing

Hi GAMErs!

today’s passage: Ruth 4:1-12.  Let’s go!

Ruth 4:1 (NIV)
1 Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat there. When the kinsman-redeemer he had mentioned came along, Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down.

On verses 1-9:  I’m intrigued by the interaction between Boaz and his relative and how different these two men are.

On one hand there’s Boaz.  Boaz was thoughtful, considerate, and intentional in his dealings with people and in business.  Before making a decision, he would do his research, count the cost, and plan ahead.  I get the sense that Boaz would try to think two steps ahead of everyone else.  Boaz was also respectful in the way he communicated with those he dealt with.  Thoughtful decision making and good EQ – these are part of what made Boaz an effective leader and a successful businessman.  You see these traits of Boaz in play often in the book of Ruth, but especially here in Ruth 4:1-12.  Boaz thoughtfully speaks to his relative (v1), wisely invites the elders of the town to be witnesses to a transaction (v2), skillfully leads his relative to relinquish his right as kinsman redeemer (v3) and eloquently announces to all the people that he will step in as Ruth’s kinsman redeemer (v9-10).

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ruth 2:14-23.  Let’s go!

Ruth 2:14-16 (NIV)
14  At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar.” When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over.
15  As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, “Even if she gathers among the sheaves, don’t embarrass her.
16  Rather, pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.”

On verses 14-16:  In Boaz we see a cool reflection of Jesus Christ in the book of Ruth, whereas Ruth is a great picture of the church.  For example:

– Just as Boaz fed Ruth a meal by offering her bread and wine (v14), Jesus invited his disciples to a meal of bread and wine at his last supper, and later gave His body (represented by the bread) and His blood (represented by the wine) for us.

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ruth 1:14-22.  Let’s go!

Ruth 1:14 (NIV)
14  At this they wept again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-by, but Ruth clung to her.

On verse 14:  Orpah and Ruth were both completely within their rights to go back to their own people after their husbands had died.  Orpah did nothing wrong by leaving especially after Naomi had told her to do so.  But God was doing something extraordinary in Ruth’s heart.

On verses 15-18:  Ruth decides to stay with her mother-in-law Naomi, go back to Naomi’s home country of Israel, and even adopt Naomi’s people and God as her own.  All of this is incredible when you consider that:

– It was her mother-in-law!  (I’m kidding.  A common stereotype is that a mother-in-law can be a “monster-in-law”.  But the truth is that I’m blessed with a wonderful mother-in-law, and I’m sure I’m not the only one.)

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Mark 16:12-20.  Let’s go!

Mark 16:12-14 (NIV)
12  Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country.
13  These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.
14  Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

On verses 12-14:  Even after Jesus had repeatedly told them that he would rise again, even after the incredible miracles the disciples had seen Jesus do, and even after multiple witnesses were testifying to them about Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples still refused to believe.  Based on all that the disciples had been shown, the disciples should have believed earlier, but they didn’t.  So Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe.

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Mark 15:42-47.  Let’s go!

Mark 15:42-47 (NIV)
42  It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached,
43  Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.
44  Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died.
45  When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph.
46  So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.
47  Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

On verses 42-43:  According to scholars, usually crucified criminals were not buried.  Rather their bodies were left to rot on the cross.  However, in Jewish culture, giving a dead person a proper burial was the right thing to do.