Rest from the ordinary.

Day 24

Ruth 3:3

Wash therefore and anoint yourself and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor.

Rest from the ordinary.

It’s a different generation. I remember going to church on Sundays. Getting ready. Morning shower. Make-up. Sunday clothes. Nothing was too good to wear on Sunday morning. It was the outing. The highlight of the week.

Now it startles me to see beautiful young girls and women dressed in rags to go to church. I have even seen some in pajamas. Yet, I see on their social media how well they clean up for a party on Friday or Saturday night. I know there is an argument and something to be said about “come as you are” and “there is no judgment here”. That is true, too. It could be a long conversation. I get it. We don’t want someone to feel uncomfortable in church or not walk in at all because they fear they have to do something before, or that they have to do “clean up” to be accepted. But let’s look at this another way.

Naomi told Ruth to wash and perfume herself and put on her best clothes. After all, she was going to meet her redeemer. He knew her. He knew her when she was poor, tired, dirty from the day’s work, and yes, smelly. He had seen her in her raggedy clothes, torn and filthy. He still accepted her as one of his workers. One more of many. But now, she wanted to be seen differently. She wanted to be seen as his bride.

Is that not a beautiful picture of Christ, our Redeemer? He knows us. He knows we are one of the many in his creation. He knows we are dirty and tired from the day’s work. Sometimes we work hard every day just to survive. He also knows he is our redeemer. Just as Ruth had already come to Boaz as she was, we once came to Jesus as we were. But now, it is time to be seen as His bride. It is time to wash ourselves and get rid of all the filthiness of our old life, and perfume ourselves with the fresh smell of the fruit of the Spirit, and dress up in good works, and present ourselves to our Redeemer clean, with nothing to be ashamed of. He will still transform you like he transformed Mary Magdalene and the woman caught in adultery, and the woman at the well. We are no longer widows; we are no longer workers. Now we are victors, we are queens; we are his bride. Let’s present ourselves to the master as such. #getittogethergirl, straighten up your crown. Your prince charming is waiting on the threshing floor. Let him see you at your best and fall in love with you. Don’t worry, he already saw you at your worst and still wants you. Go to him.

Father, thank you because even though I have nothing of value to offer you, you are still interested in me because all you want is my heart. So here I am. You have washed me, perfumed me, and dressed me, and now I want to reflect the beauty of your kingdom in a manner worthy of you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

My reflections:

Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

John 12:3

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