Transformed: Becoming Who God Created You To Be. (Be Committed)

INTRO:

Illustration:

In a bustling city in 2023, a young woman named Maya chose to stick by her mother-in-law, Lena, after Maya’s husband (Lena’s son) passed away in a sudden accident.

With rent soaring and Lena’s health declining, Maya juggled two jobs—barista by day, freelance coder by night—refusing to let Lena face eviction alone.

Lena, who worried about Maya, would say, “Maya, you’re young. Move on, start fresh.”

But Maya, scrolling through job boards on her phone, smiled and said, “We’re in this together. I’m not leaving you.”

One evening, Lena reminded Maya about a tech startup owner, Mr. Carter, who had once offered Maya a gig after seeing her fix his laptop at the coffee shop.

“He’s solid,” Lena urged.

“Reach out.”

That night, Maya hesitated, but then sent a LinkedIn message, laying it all out: “I’ll work hard for you, but I need stability—for me and Lena.”

With her heart pounding she hit send.

The next day, Mr. Carter replied.

He was impressed by her honesty and hustle.

He said, “Commitment like that’s rare.”

“You’re hired—full benefits, remote options, enough for you both.”

Within a month, Maya and Lena had a new lease on life, all because Maya’s unwavering commitment, which opened a door to redemption in a modern world.

In our culture today, you must admit, commitment is something that seams to be falling to the way side.

No longer is a person committed to an occupation/corporation for the rest of their working days.

No longer is a company committed to their employees as once was.

Commitment is something that is lacking in families today as well.

Divorce rate is still very high.

In 2024, the divorce rate is between 40% and 50% for first marriages, according to Modern Family Law research. 

The point is this ….. Commitment seems to be lacking in our culture today.

I will also say that Commitment is also lacking in the church today as well.

When we talk about this in a spiritual dynamic (The Church) there is a few reason we might find a lack of commitment …..

Competing worldviews - Exposure to conflicting belief systems without adequate spiritual grounding can erode conviction, hence commitment.

Sin and moral compromise - When your actions clash with your faith, it messes with your head, so you might ditch the commitments that make it obvious.

Neglected spiritual disciplines - When prayer, Scripture reading, worship, and other practices that nurture spiritual life are abandoned, commitment naturally weakens.

Spiritual woundedness - Unhealed pain from church leaders or church people can make it tough to stay committed.

Misaligned expectations - When God doesn't fulfill expectations of blessing, protection, or answered prayer in anticipated ways, disappointment can lead to withdrawal, hence commitment.

Scripture often describes this process as

.”… drifting away" (Hebrews 2:1 “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.”)

or having one's love "grow cold" (Matthew 24:12 “And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.”).

All of this suggest it is usually gradual “de-commitment” rather than a sudden one.

SEGWAY:

We have been in this series “Transformed: Becoming Who God Created You To Be.”

We have looked at the understanding that God created us to be ….

“Human Beings” not “Human doers.”

“Priest”

“Holy”

This week we are going to address the idea that God created us to be “Committed.”

Here is the Bottom Line …..

"Commitment to God requires a daily surrendering and a devoted discipleship."

There is a phenomenal story in the bible that brings about this premise of “Commitment.”

(Have them stand)

BODY:

Ruth 3:1-17 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” And she replied, “All that you say I will do.” So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” And he said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.” So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” And he said, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city. And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did you fare, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, saying, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’ ”

Let me review, for us, what was just read …..

Lets set the scene …..

Ruth is the daughter-in-law of Naomi (She is a widower)

Ruth’s husband / Naomi’s son has passed away

Boaz is a wealthy landowner in Bethlehem.

Here's what we know about him:

He was a respected businessman and landowner who possessed fields where barley and wheat were harvested.

He was related to Elimelech, Naomi's deceased husband, making him a "kinsman-redeemer" who had certain responsibilities toward Naomi and Ruth according to Hebrew custom.

The concept of a kinsman-redeemer (Hebrew: go'el) is a significant and multifaceted role in the Old Testament, rooted in ancient Israelite family, social, and legal traditions.

It refers to a close relative who has the responsibility or right to act on behalf of a family member in need, particularly to preserve the family’s inheritance, protect vulnerable relatives, or restore what has been lost.

We find the legal foundations of all of this in the Book of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Boaz was known for his kindness and generosity, as demonstrated when he allowed Ruth to glean in his fields and instructed his workers to deliberately leave extra grain for her.

He was older than Ruth (he refers to her as "my daughter" in Ruth 3:10).

He showed remarkable integrity in handling the situation with Ruth on the threshing floor and in respecting the rights of a closer relative before claiming his right to redeem Naomi's property and marry Ruth.

He ultimately married Ruth, and they became the great-grandparents of King David, placing them in the ancestral line of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5-6).

Ruth 3:1-17 presents a pivotal scene in the narrative where Naomi devises a bold plan for Ruth to secure a future through Boaz.

Following her mother-in-law's instructions, Ruth approaches Boaz at night on the threshing floor after he had finished eating and drinking, and she uncovers his feet and lays down.

There is not enough time to unpack what was taking place here but rest assured …… There was nothing improper about this procedure, for it was the only way Ruth could offer herself to her kinsman-redeemer.

She had to put herself at the feet of the lord of the harvest, and he would do the rest.

Repeat this ….. “She had to position herself at the feet of her Kinsman-redeemer!!!!”

When Boaz discovers her, Ruth requests his protection as a kinsman-redeemer.

Boaz acknowledges her virtue and agrees to fulfill this role.

This midnight encounter, while potentially scandalous in appearance, is handled with respect and honor by both parties.

Boaz protects Ruth's reputation by sending her home before dawn with a generous gift of barley.

The passage skillfully weaves together themes of loyalty, commitment, cultural customs, risk-taking, with both characters acting with integrity despite the unconventional circumstances.

I want to point out to you 5 things that happened in verses 3, 4 & 5 that is significant for us today.

Ruth 3:3 “Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.”

She washed herself “Wash therefore”

She anointed herself “anoint yourself”

She changed clothes “put on your cloak”

Amplified Bible translates it, “put on your best clothes”

She learned how to present herself to him

Ruth 3:3–4 “..... and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.”

She promised to obey (Ruth 3:5 “And she replied, “All that you say I will do.”)

Stay with me …..

So how does this apply to us today?

If you look hard enough you will find, just as Ruth placed herself at the feet of Boaz (Kinsman-redeemer), we, as believers, place ourselves at the feet of Jesus (our Redeemer).

Entering into a relationship with Jesus we are receiving salvation.

What is salvation?

Salvation refers to the divine rescue of humanity from sin and its consequences through Jesus Christ.

At its core, it's the reconciliation between sinful humans and a holy God, made possible by Christ's sacrificial death and resurrection.

We believe salvation is received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9), not by human works or merit.

This faith involves trust in Christ's finished work, repentance from sin, and commitment to follow Him.

When we are entering into a relationship with Jesus Christ this is what is happening!!!!!!

Let’s go back and look at this again ….

Once we have encountered Christ ….

We wash ourselves (Baptized) Just as Ruth did (Ruth 3:3)

Acts 2:38 “And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

We are anointed ….. Just as Ruth did (3:3)

2 Corinthians 1:21–22 (ESV) “And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”

We are changed (Inside and outside) ….. She changed her clothes (3:3)

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

We now know how to present ourselves to God (Through Jesus)

When God looks down on the earth He sees His Son in us not our sinful selves. AMEN?

We promise to obey! ….. She says, “all that you say, I will do.”

John 14:15 ““If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

What we find is Ruth committed to Naomi and is now committing herself to Boaz (Her Kinsman-redeemer)

When we accept Christ we are committing ourselves to our redeemer.

We start the Transformation: Becoming who God has created us to be.

That creation is “someone who is committed!”

Let me say it like this, ….. "Stepping into who God made us to be means staying all-in with commitment!" (REPEAT IT)

SEGWAY:

2 things happened when Ruth became all-in with commitment ….

Submission (Ruth 3:6–9)

Obedience/Listening (Ruth 3:10-14)

“When we’re genuinely locked in and commited, two things have to take place:”

Let go of our own agenda. (Submission)

Tune in and follow through with what God is saying. (Obedience/listening)

Result of Commitment

Ruth received gifts from Boaz (Ruth 3:15–17 “And he said, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley (25lbs) and put it on her. Then she went into the city. And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did you fare, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, saying, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’ ”)

This was the result of Ruth’s commitment to Boaz.

Her and Naomi were going to be taken care of.

They were redeemed in the family.

They were restored in the community.

Whats the result of our commitment to Christ ….

We receive the blessings of God/power of the Holy Spirit/adoption into the family of God.

CONCLUSION:

Commitment brings about ….

…. Glory to God

…. a witness to the people (the world)

…. solidified Christian character in the lives of believers

There was a young man named Jake, a rock climber in Colorado, who’s been training for months to tackle a treacherous peak.

Halfway up, a storm rolls in—winds howling, rain pelting his face—and his buddies radio him to turn back, saying, “It’s too risky, man, come down!”

But Jake, tethered to his anchor rope, grits his teeth and says, “I’m locked in—I’ve got my line, and I’m not letting go.”

He pushes through, step by step, trusting the rope that’s held him steady all along, and when he finally summits, the clouds part, revealing a view that makes every struggle worth it.

Just like Jake clinging to his anchor, our commitment to Christ—our unshakable Redeemer—carries us through life’s storms, securing us to a purpose and a promise that never fails.

Church, we are created to be “Committed.”

Committed to Christ

Committed to His Church

Committed to our Marriage

Committed to our Family

This is who God has created us to be!

Declaration:

I declare that my dedication to God

mirrors Christ’s sacrifice,

opening the door

to His redemption in my life.

I reject the world’s fading commitment,

choosing daily to surrender

to Jesus, my Redeemer.

Through baptism, anointing, and transformation,

I am washed clean,

sealed by the Spirit,

and made new in Christ.

I commit to letting go

of my own plans

and obey God’s voice,

knowing this

brings glory to Him,

strengthens my character,

and serves as a witness

to others.

Stepping into who God created me to be

means staying all-in

with unwavering commitment.

I declare this in Jesus Name!