The next thought that is emphasized about Boaz is similar to what we have just been saying, but by no
means identical. The narrative goes on to show (and very carefully) that Boaz was not only a qualified
redeemer, but also

A WILLING REDEEMER

We note that Boaz says to Ruth, "Fear not; I WILL do to thee all that thou requirest; ...then WILL I do
the part of a kinsman (redeemer) to thee" (Ruth 3:11, 13). And it is clear he spoke with a studied and full
understanding of the great personal cost that would be involved (See ch. 4:5). Already qualified, he was
also WILLING.

It is very important for us to notice the great difference between "qualified" and "willing", -something
carefully brought out in the unfolding events of our story. We are told that, in this particular case, there
was another "kinsman" who was equally qualified, and who was, in fact, given the first option to exercise
his right. For certain reasons, however, he declined the opportunity, and left the door open to Boaz. His
words were, "I CANNOT redeem... lest I mar mine own inheritance" (Ruth 4:6). Much, perhaps, might
be said about that (and Rom. 8:3, 4 might give us a safe clue!), but our simple point, for the moment, is to
show that there is a world of difference between "qualified redeemer" and "willing redeemer"; -and only
Boaz was both qualified AND willing. We read how he stood before the elders of the city and formally
declared this; -stating, in fact, his complete readiness to fulfill all the associated responsibilities. He was
prepared to proceed whatever might be the cost.

This, surely, brings our own Glorious Redeemer into clearest light. As Perfect Man He was qualified to
redeem, but the marvel is, HE WAS ALSO WILLING! Boaz took a costly way, no doubt, (involving
marriage to a despised daughter of Moab!), but what was that compared with the costly way which OUR
Redeemer took for us? With awe and gratitude, we recall the words of Peter, "Forasmuch as ye know that
ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, ...But with the precious blood of Christ,
as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1Pet.1: 18,19). O, thank God for Christ our WILLING
Redeemer! When fallen men so desperately needed a Redeemer, and when God in Heaven was saying"
Who will go for us", the ready answer of our Saviour was, "Here am I; send me" (lsa.6:8)! The Scriptures
make it so plain that our Lord went willingly to the Cross-for our sakes. He Himself said, "I lay down my
life... No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself" (John 10:17,18). We read in Isaiah, "He... is
brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his
mouth" (lsa.53: 7). Indeed, each one of us can say, He "loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Gal.2: 20).
It all reminds us of that old familiar song:

"There was one who was willing to die in my stead
That a soul so unworthy might live;
And the path to the Cross He was willing to tread
All the sins of my life to forgive".
O, thank God for that Willing Redeemer

THE PREACHING OF THE CROSS -2
BAKHT SINGH

In Corinth, believers were divided. Some said they belonged to Paul, some to Apollos, some to Cephas
and some to Christ (1 Cor. 1 :12). They were full of hatred and jealousy. That is why Paul says in 1 Cor.
2:2, "I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified". H~ also told
them about the great things God had purposed to give them. "... Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither
have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (1 Cor.
2:9). There was no need for them to glory in the miracles done by the apostles in the past. We can also
have the same weakness of glorying about the past. We should rather enter into the great purpose of God
as revealed in 1 Cor. 2:9. God wants to do so much for us, far beyond our understanding. But these great
mysteries can be understood only by the deeper work of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the
power of the Holy Spirit. That is why the apostle had such a burden to know among the Corinthians
nothing but Christ crucified (1 Cor .2:2).

The believers at Corinth gloried in their Bible knowledge, because they had plenty of knowledge. They
gloried in their utterance also (1 Cor. 1: 5- 7). They believed in and waited for the second coming of the
Lord Jesus. They had more gifts than other people. Inspite of all these advantages they remained babes. It
is quite possible to be like that. That is the sad condition of many believers even to day. With all the
preaching and knowledge, there is no depth in their spiritual life. They live a life of defeat, and are dry
spiritually. There is no spiritual oneness among them, whether they are God's servants or believers. There
is no understanding of deep spi ritual matters; they know only repentance and salvation. But Paul says,
God wants to give great things, and for that we need to understand the deeper meaning of the cross of the
Lord Jesus Christ.

The power of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ helps us to die with Him as Paul testifies in Gal. 2:20, "I
am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which r now
live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me". Before we
can die with Him, we have to understand how He died for our sins. He became our Substitute. He did no
sin, He knew no sin, yet He died for us. "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin: that we
might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Cor. 5:21). "Who, when he was reviled, reviled not
again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who
his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto
righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed" (1 Pet. 2:23, 24). "Who was delivered for our offences,
and was raised again for our justification" (Rom. 4:25). We must remember this fact day by day, not just
think about it now and then. It will take our whole life, even eternity to know this unchanging, divine
love of the Lord Jesus Christ. First of all, we must know that He died for our sins (Rom. 6:23). God is
just. He must punish us for the sins, which we committed by word, deed and thought. We think that the
sins of deeds only are great sins. But before our God, " any thing that breaks our contact with Him is sin.

A few drops of water in a switch causes all lights and fans to go off. Once in a big building we found that
lights were going off very often. When one of us went to see the cause, he found few ants running in and
out of the switch. Small ants only, but because of them fuse was going off and the whole building was in
darkness. Even so, a sinful thought or deed breaks our contact with God.
Now who can count evil thoughts? In Mark 7:21-22 we read, "For from within, out of the heart of men,
proceed evil thoughts, adulteries. Fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness.,... an evil eye, blasphemy,
pride, foolishness". Though we do not want, thoughts of hatred and jealousy often come into us. In the
same way, all our idle words will be counted. "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall
speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment"(Matt.12:36). We have to be punished for
our sinful deeds, words and also thoughts. If we can count our bad thoughts of one day, they are more
than the number of our hairs. If that is true of one day, what about every day? If we put all our thoughts
together, our punishment will be very great. Our sins are so many, that we deserve eternal death. But our
Lord Jesus Christ as our loving Creator bore all our punishment on the cross. His love is very great!

Many parents pay the debts of their children. Some children throw stones and break the neighbor's
window panes. Then the parents will pay the cost of the glass. Similarly, the Lord Jesus Christ our
Creator, paid the penalty of all our sins. That is why He allowed people to do to Him whatever they
wanted. If He wanted, He would have brought fire from heaven, as the disciples wanted to do in Luke
9:52-54. But He rebuked them and said, "...the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save
them" (v.56). As our loving Saviour He bore all our sins in His own body. He gave His hands and feet to
be pierced, face to be spat upon, hair to be plucked, and back to be scourged. Every joint of His body
became loose. When He was scourged His whole body was bruised, for the scourges were made of steel
pieces. He gave all as the Scripture says. That is why it will take us eternity to thank Him sufficiently. Do
you thank Him for dying for your sins? How many times do you thank Him? You may take hardly a
minute. Many thank Him only as a routine, and not from their hearts.