2025 Advent Part 1

At Keys Vineyard Church, we are presenting a series called ‘Advent 2025’ which we post here on Online Bible Institute.

I like to think of the Book of Ruth like Christmas in July. It is an Old Testament story that shines light on the Christmas story long before the angels ever filled the sky over Bethlehem. Ruth’s story contains a number of remarkable parallels that point us toward Jesus, and during this Advent season we will explore several of them together. It is also no coincidence that both stories take place in the little town of Bethlehem. Bethlehem reminds us that God often begins His greatest works in places that seem small, ordinary, and easily overlooked. Yet it is in those very places that His grace breaks through in surprising ways.

This weekend, we are looking at one of these beautiful parallels.

Ruth 1:16-17 (NIV)
16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”

Ruth makes a bold and heartfelt declaration to Naomi: “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Ruth’s words are far more than a promise of loyalty to Naomi. She pledges herself to the Lord. Her commitment is not temporary or convenient. She does not say she will stay with Naomi only for the remainder of Naomi’s life. Instead, she says, “Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried.” Ruth is choosing to be buried in Israel, among God’s people, rather than with her own ancestors and the gods of her homeland. This is a complete, life shaping commitment of faith. It is a decision that will change her life, Naomi’s life, and ultimately the world, because this commitment will place Ruth in the family line that leads to King David and then to Jesus.

When I read Ruth’s words, I cannot help but think of another young woman who also made a life changing commitment of faith: Mary.

Luke 1:30-38 (NIV)
30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Mary was just a young woman when the angel Gabriel came to her with an astonishing message. She would give birth to the Son of God. The news was overwhelming and dangerous. It threatened her reputation, her future marriage, and perhaps even her life. Yet Mary responded with faith: “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” Like Ruth, Mary laid everything before the Lord. She trusted God and stepped into His plan, even when she did not fully understand it.

Both Ruth and Mary show us that when ordinary people say yes to God, extraordinary things happen. If you want to make a difference in this world, you need to be a person of faith. Nothing of lasting significance for the Kingdom happens without trusting God and committing your life to Him.

This weekend at Keys Vineyard Church, we will discuss all this and more, so be sure to join us in person or online.

Steve Lawes is a pastor at Keys Vineyard Church and also the founder of the Online Bible Institute Network.