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The Faith of Ruth

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In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.

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There’s Still a Mission

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Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

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The Birth of Blessings

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She said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.

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The Parable of the Wedding Banquet

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Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

“Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’

“But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

“Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless.

“Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

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The Midwives who Feared God

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Exodus 1:1-22 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, “When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.
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The Power of Forgiveness

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“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

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Tell Him That the Lord Needs Them

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On Palm Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem in a way that defied people’s expectations. Rather than arriving as a powerful, triumphant king on a mighty horse, He rode in on a humble donkey, signaling a new kind of kingdom built on love rather than force. The crowds waved palm branches in welcome, yet this moment was just the beginning of a path leading to the cross – a bitter, sorrowful journey involving betrayal, the last supper, the arrest in Gethsemane, and eventually crucifixion. Even so, at the heart of all this sorrow was a deep love for sinners that cannot be overlooked.

Jesus’ unassuming entry reveals how God often works in ways we do not anticipate. The Messiah the people expected was meant to defeat enemies and restore Israel’s earthly power, but Jesus brought the power of the cross instead. Where the world exalts pride and might, Christ came with humility and sacrificial love – a paradox that continues to challenge our assumptions about what true strength and salvation look like. Only through this unexpected road of suffering did Jesus provide resurrection and new life, turning what seemed foolish into the ultimate display of divine wisdom.

This paradox shapes our own faith journey. Just as many in Jerusalem didn’t recognize the King riding on a donkey, we too can miss God’s transforming presence when we impose our preconceived ideas of how He should act. Far from intellectual proof or political maneuvering, the cross represents God’s simple yet profound call for our hearts – to trust Him in humility and love. When we lay aside our pride and let the unexpected grace of the cross touch us personally, we experience a resurrection of our own heart. Through faith in this humble Savior, we participate in a kingdom far greater than any worldly force, living a life that points to the power of God’s love even in the face of sorrow and suffering.

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The Parable of the Tenants

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Gratia Church held a graceful Sunday service on March 30, filled with worship and praise. Pastor Walker delivered a message based on Matthew 21:33-46, and below is a summary of that message.

Jesus tells the parable of a vineyard owner whose tenants refuse to give him the harvest, even resorting to beating and killing his servants – a reflection of Israel’s repeated rejection of God’s prophets. Through this story, Jesus exposes the power lust and hatred of the religious establishment of His time, who viewed themselves as the rightful heirs of God’s Kingdom. Rather than humbly stewarding God’s vineyard in love, they hardened their hearts, ultimately plotting the murder of God’s very own Son. This parable reveals that the cross was no mere accident but an act of violent rejection by those drunk with authority.

Yet, the heart of the Father was never for His Son to be murdered – the parable highlights God’s patient hope that His people would honor His Son and repent. God does not cause evil, but even though He foresaw the tenants’ hostility, He sent His Son out of love, giving the Jewish leaders every chance to turn back to Him. However, their stubbornness entrenched them deeper in sin, and the tragic consequence was the crucifixion of Jesus. Through this very act of rejection, however, grace extended beyond the confines of Israel’s religious system to Gentiles and sinners everywhere – those willing to produce the fruit of genuine love.

Ultimately, the parable points to both judgment and hope: the tenants forfeited the Kingdom due to their violence, but a door of blessing was opened wide to the spiritually lowly and contrite. Even though Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross appeared wretched and humiliating, it overturned sin through the power of perfect love. When we accept His death and resurrection in our hearts, we witness this rejected Stone becoming the cornerstone of our salvation. Through the cross, God’s grand new world has been unveiled to all, urging us to live by grace rather than being bound by the corrupt power structures of this world. 

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Looking Unto Jesus

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Even though we live in the tension of the “already but not yet” – where we have experienced salvation through Christ yet await its ultimate fulfillment – we are encouraged to press on by drawing strength from His example. By looking to Jesus, who endured the cross and scorned its shame, we find a model for enduring hardships and temptations with unwavering perseverance. Instead of being weighed down by the past or distracted by worldly enticements, we are inspired to throw off every hindrance and stay focused on the One who leads us forward in faith.

This perspective on Christ shapes how we live for the Kingdom of God here and now. While the full restoration of creation awaits a future completion, the power of Jesus’ victory is already accessible in our daily lives. Fixing our gaze on Him reminds us that our ultimate purpose extends beyond temporary earthly goals. Rather than being overwhelmed by this life’s pressures or lured by self-centered ambitions, our eyes remain on Jesus, guiding our decisions and energizing us to serve others for His glory. The “already but not yet” reality compels us to live out Kingdom values-love, grace, and justice-even as we anticipate the day when all is brought under Christ’s lordship. By running with perseverance and fixing our eyes on Jesus, we not only endure the race but also experience the joy of participating in God’s ongoing redemptive work.

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