WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER GRACE
Ruth 2:4-16
A.W Tozer said “Grace is the good pleasure of God that inclines Him to bestow benefits upon the undeserving. Its use to us sinful men, is to save us and to make us sit together in heavenly places to demonstrate to the ages the exceeding riches of God’s kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”
The benefits that God graciously bestows upon His children are innumerable. God's grace is the source of our salvation, our eternal life and our promised home in Heaven. God's grace is evident in our lives on a daily basis. It is through His grace that we receive direction, protection and satisfaction. There are many blessings that come as a result of God's grace. Today I would like to consider a few of those blessings and preach about "What Happens When You Encounter Grace".
The story of Ruth is one of the most beautiful illustrations of grace that you will ever hear. In verses 1-3 of this chapter Ruth sets out to glean in the fields in order to provide food for herself and her mother in law Naomi. When she left that morning she was hoping to find grace. Verses 4-16 tell us that she found grace in a man named Boaz. Boaz extended grace to this stranger from Moab, and when he did, Ruth received more than she could have ever imagined. God has extended His grace unto us, and because of His grace we receive countless blessings in this life.
- Let's briefly examine the moment that Ruth encountered grace:
v4 And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee. 5 Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? 6 And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: 7 And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.
Boaz arrived at his field and greets his laborers saying "the Lord be with you". Then he notices a young woman gleaning corn in his field. He asks the foreman, “Whose damsel is this?” Ol Boaz was intrigued, he looked at Ruth and said "WOW.... who is she???" This is one of those love at first sight Hallmark movie moments!
- On this day Boaz offered Ruth grace and changed her life forever. When God extends His grace to us... when He comes into our lives we are changed forever as well. This text illustrates some of the things that God's grace brings into our lives. For example:
I. WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER GRACE YOU WILL RECEIVE DIRECTION
v8 Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:
Boaz told Ruth where she should go. It is apparent that he had her best interests in mind. He wanted her to abide with him, he did not want her to glean in the field of another. Ruth doesn't know it yet, but Boaz has plans to take care of her. If she will abide in his field, she will enjoy the best he has to offer.
God has always had a way of leading His people. He led the Children of Israel with a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire by night. He led the wise men to the Lord Jesus by the light of a star. God leads us through His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer and He leads, guides and directs our lives. However, it is our responsibility to follow His leading.
Proverbs 3:6 says, “In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.”
If we follow God's direction, we will always be in the center of His will. It is His desire that we abide with Him. Just as Boaz did not want Ruth gleaning in the field of another, God does not want His children looking for satisfaction in the things of this world.
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
It would have been foolish for Ruth to leave Boaz's field and to go and glean somewhere else. No one would protect her like Boaz, no one would provide for her like Boaz, no one would care for her like Boaz. In the same way, it would be foolish for a child of God to leave Him and to go and abide in this old sinful world. Some have made this foolish decision, but they will learn that no one can protect them like God does, no one will provide for them like God does, and no one can love them like God.
- If you will abide with the Lord, you will receive His direction in your life. You will also learn that:
II. WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER GRACE YOU WILL RECEIVE PROTECTION
v9 Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn. 10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? 11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. 12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
Boaz wanted Ruth to know that from that moment on he would take care of her. He was going to do all that was within his power to protect her. Boaz commanded the men to leave her alone. He made sure that no one would attempt to harm or take advantage of Ruth. Boaz did not want Ruth to worry. He wanted her to trust him to protect her and that is exactly what he did.
Jesus made it clear that we will experience trouble in this world. But He promised that we could trust in Him to protect us!
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
We all have our issues, we all face troubles in this life whether it be financial issues, physical ailments, emotional turmoil, mental strains or spiritual struggles. No matter what we encounter, we can trust our Lord to take care of us!
Notice verse 12, Boaz said “The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.”
When you put your faith in God, you can rest in His protection. The picture that Boaz paints is that of a little chick under the wings of its mother. We serve the almighty, all knowing, all powerful God and He can and will protect His own! His protection is just one more result of His amazing grace!
- When you encounter that grace you will find direction, you will find protection and in verse 13 we see that:
III. WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER GRACE YOU WILL RECEIVE AFFECTION
v13 Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.
Ruth states that Boaz has "spoken friendly" unto her. This literally means that he has spoken to her heart. When Ruth left the house that day she was simply hoping to find grace. She was looking for someone who would allow her to glean in their field. She was certainly not expecting to meet the man of her dreams. I am sure that she never would have dreamed that this encounter would lead to a lifelong relationship. Though she was a stranger and an outcast from the land of Moab, Boaz offered her kindness, love and grace.
Before Christ we were strangers and exiles, we were dead in our trespasses and sins. There was nothing we could to do deserve all that God has done for us. In spite of our past, God has offered us His love, grace, mercy and salvation!
- Paul described this so well in: Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
The encounter that took place in that field was the beginning of a lifetime of love and a beautiful relationship. When we encounter God's grace and surrender to Him, we enter into a relationship that will last throughout eternity. My friend I want you to know that there is someone who loves you. Jesus Christ cares for you, He loves you and wants you to abide with Him. Because of God's grace you can experience the love and affection that comes with a relationship with Him.
- When you encounter God's grace you will receive His direction, protection and affection. Finally I want to consider the fact that:
IV. WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER GRACE YOU WILL RECEIVE SATISFACTION
v14 And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.
Ruth caught Boaz's eye and he asked one of his reapers who she was. He immediately goes to where she was and asked her out to lunch! Ruth sat there with the harvesters, and Boaz gave her some roasted grain to eat. She ate all she wanted and still had some left over. Ruth did not know it, but she was sitting across the table from the man who would redeem her. Not only would he redeem her, he would supply all of her needs for the rest of her life!
Notice what Boaz does in verse 15 And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: 16 And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.
Boaz told his harvesters to allow Ruth to glean among the sheaves. He also instructed them to throw some of the harvest down on purpose so that she would have more than enough. Gleaning was the process of picking up what was left over in the field. Boaz wanted to make sure that Ruth received more than leftovers. This is a picture of the love and care that God has for His children. He will always supply our needs, but God also has a way of bringing unexpected blessings into our lives. It would have been grace if Boaz had simply allowed Ruth to glean in the field and pick up the leftovers. But Boaz loved Ruth from the very beginning. He invited her to dine with him and to abide with him. He made it his mission to see that she was protected and satisfied. He gave her direction, protection, affection and satisfaction. That is exactly what happens when you encounter God's grace.
If He had only delivered us from the penalty of our sins it would have been more than we ever deserved. But the truth is, God loved us from the very beginning. Because of this He did what was necessary for us to be able to abide with us. Jesus left Heaven and came to earth to be the sacrifice for our sins. He went to Calvary and gave His life in order to redeem us. And because of His redeeming work, we have the opportunity to dine with Him. This is why we call His grace amazing!
Ruth was amazed by Boaz's grace, notice Ruth 2:10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? Ruth sees everything Boaz is going to do for her and she asks him “Why have I found grace in thine eyes?”
Every person who has experienced the grace of God has likely asked that question at one time or another. There was nothing that Ruth had done that would make her worthy of all that he was going to do for her. Ruth experienced Boaz's grace simply because of who he was. There is nothing that you could ever do that would make you worthy to receive God's love and forgiveness. But grace is available to you today because of who He is.
No matter who you are, no matter what you have done... you can receive grace today! Because of God's grace you can be saved, you can receive eternal life and the promise of a home in Heaven.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
I encourage you to surrender to Him and be born again today. If you will, you will see first hand "What Happens When You Encounter Grace".
