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In Robert Robinson’s great hymn, “Come Thou Fount,” we find these words:
Oh to grace how great a debtor, Daily I’m constrained to be! Let Thy goodness like a fetter, Bind my wandering soul to Thee:
The story of every believer’s life is a story of grace. Whether it is fully comprehended or not on our part, each of us are to grace a great debtor. In each of our lives there is the story of saving grace, living grace, and dying grace. The commencement of the Christian life, the continuation of the Christian life, and the conclusion of the Christian life, is a story of grace. I think of John Newton, the author of “Amazing Grace.” Two or three years before Newton died, his sight was so dim that he was no longer able to read. A friend and brother in the ministry would have breakfast with him, and their custom was that he would read the Word of God. Newton would make a few remarks on the passage and then they would pray. One particular day they read the words of Paul, “By the grace of God I am what I am” (see I Cor.15:10). Newton was silent for the longest and finally he said, “I am not what I ought to be! How imperfect and deficient I am! I am not what I wish to be, although I abhor that which is evil and would cleave to that which is good! I am not what I hope to be, but soon I shall be out of mortality, and with it all sin and imperfection. Though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor yet what I hope to be, I can truly say, I am not what I once was: a slave to sin and Satan. I can heartily join with the Apostle and acknowledge that by the grace of God I am what I am.!” Each of us must say, “I am what I am by the grace of God!” Each of us must say, “Oh, to grace how great a debtor!” Each of us must say with John Bradford, “There, but for the grace of God, goes John Bradford.” Someone has given us this acrostic of grace: “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” Grace has been defined by a comparison to God’s mercy as: “Grace is that we get what we don’t deserve, and mercy is that we don’t get what we do deserve.” If anyone ever understood how great a debtor one is to grace, it was Ruth. She like Paul and Newton had to say, “I am what I am by the grace of God.” All the glories she experienced were because of the grace she experienced. Notice the emphasis on grace in chapter two. We read in verse 2, “Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace.” Also in verse 10, “Why have I found grace in thine eyes?” Let’s notice the story of grace in the story before us. First, think with me of: 1. HOW AMAZING THE GRACE OF GOD John Newton described grace as “amazing.” A few years ago, there came out a song that said, “There’s no other word for grace, but amazing.” There are many adjectives for grace and “amazing” is definitely one of them. In Ruth we see how amazing God grace is on our part. As we look at Ruth, first we see that: A) Nationally She Was Rejected Notice in verse two that she is called and identified as “Ruth the Moabitess.” When Boaz asked his servant who the stranger in his field was, the servant answered, “It is the Moabitish damsel” (Vs.6). We might say that someone is from Canada, Mexico, etc, and not think anything about it. But to a Jew, to say that one was from Moab, had serious significance. God had said, "An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever” (Deut.23:3) The Ammonites and the Moabites, because of their wickedness, were subjected to disgrace by God and the nation of Israel. They were not permitted to hold any office among the Israelites. Nationally Ruth was a member of a race that was judged and condemned by God. It was a nation and people under condemnation. It was a nation and people that were divinely rejected. Ruth in type is a picture of us all before God saved us. We all were sinners under condemnation. Because of our wicked state and life, we were cut off from a Holy God. We were under the wrath and judgment of a Holy God. Paul described our condition in Ephesians 2:2-3, "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: 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." Paul tells us that we were Satanically dominated. We walked according to the course of this world and according to the prince of the power of the air. We lived under Satan's control and lived according to Satan's commands. We were also spiritually disobedient. The spirit of disobedience worked within us. We were rebellious to God's Word; we were resistant of God's ways, and we were resentful of God's will. As well, we were sensually depraved. We lived our lives fulfilling the lusts and desires of the flesh and mind living lives that were immoral, wicked, and carnal. Furthermore, we were sequentially damned. We were as a result, by nature children of wrath. We were individuals under the condemnation and wrath of God. We were no better off than Ruth, she was no worse off than us. We were all sinners under condemnation. Yet, we see that: B) Personally She Was Received Ruth was first called a Moabitess, but now notice how she was addressed in verse 8: “Then said Boaz unto Ruth, ‘Hearest thou not, my daughter?” Boaz didn’t receive her as a foreigner, but as family. He called her “my daughter,” not a Moabitess. The law rejected her, but Boaz received her. Oh, dear friend, is this not the story of us all. We were condemned and without hope, but by God’s amazing grace, we have been accepted in the beloved.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found, Twas blind but now I see.
We were sinners, but by grace we are saints. We were children of wrath, but now we are the children of God. Once we had no hope, but now we have a blessed hope. Once we were rejected, but now we are received. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow could write a poem and it would be worth hundreds of dollars. We call that talent. John Jacob Astor could sign his name to a piece of paper and buy a skyscraper. We call that capital. The United States Treasury department can take a special piece of paper and some special ink, press it between special plates and make a $100 bill. We call that money. The Wright Brothers could take some used bicycle parts, wire, metal and canvas covering and make an airplane. We call that genius. Michelangelo could take some brushes and some paints and paint a masterpiece on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. We call that art. A mechanic can take a used and ruin part from your automobile engine, replace it with a new one, and make the car nearly as good as new. We call that skill. God can take a poor worthless, devastated hell-bound sinner, condemned by God, wash him in the blood of Jesus Christ and make him a son of God. We call that grace! John said, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God" (I Jhn.3:2) That's God's amazing grace. Paul said, "He hath made us accepted in the Beloved" (Eph.6). That's God's amazing grace. Peter said, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy" (I Pet.2:9-10). Ruth was a Moabitess, but to Boaz she was a daughter. She had been rejected, but now she is received. Instead of getting what she deserved she found grace. How amazing the grace of God. Secondly, think with me of: 2. HOW ABUNDANT THE GRACE OF GOD In Ephesians 2:7, Paul spoke of the "exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." In Ruth we see the exceeding riches of grace that were shown to her by Boaz. When we talk about the grace of God, we speak of all that has been given to us by God. Paul said, "For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God" (II Cor.4:15). Grace is abundant in our life. How is grace abundant in our life? First, think with me of how grace brings: A) Direction In Our Life Notice in verses 8-9, that Boaz said to Ruth, "Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens; Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them." She receives words of guidance and direction from Boaz. Grace brings into our life the blessing of guidance and direction. Before we were saved we were like a ship on a stormy sea without a captain or compass. But when we were saved, by grace, a Captain stepped on board and we are guided by His divine compass. We read in Psalm 32:8, "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye." We also read in Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Yes, grace, brings direction into our life's. Also, I think of how grace brings: B) Protection For Our Life Notice verse 9, "Have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee?" Boaz was concerned that others might take advantage of Ruth. From what we know of Ruth, she was a very attractive woman. But Boaz made sure that she would be safe. God is watching over our lives. He is the keeper of our soul and guard of our life. We have this promise in Psalm 121:5, "The Lord is your keeper." Paul Harvey told the true story of an event that happened during World War II. He told about a B29 Bomber that took off from the Island of Guam for Kokura, Japan. When the plane arrived at it's primary target, a thick cloud covering hid the target. They circled above for 30 minutes, then 45 minutes, until 55 minutes had passed and their gas supply was dwindling to the dangerous point. They didn't want to pass up the primary point, but they had no choice. They headed for their secondary target where they dropped their bomb. Weeks later an officer received information from military intelligence that sent cold chills down his spine. Thousands of allied prisoners of war, the biggest concentration of Americans in enemy hands, had been moved to Kokura a week before the suspended bombing. The city they had originally intended to bomb had become a huge prison camp. Had they bombed it, thousands of Americans would have died. That which stopped them was a cloud, and the city they bombed was Nagasaki and the bomb they dropped was the world's second atomic bomb. There is a God in heaven that watches over His own. In the abundance of grace we find protection. I also think of how grace brings: C) Satisfaction To Our Life Notice again in verse 9, "And when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn." Under God's welfare program she could glean in the field, but that was about it. Yet, Boaz told her that she could drink of the water that was provided for his workers when she was thirsty. He said, "If you get thirsty, you satisfy your thirst." The abundant grace of God has brought satisfaction to our life. Before we were saved we were like workers laboring under the hot, burning sun, without a drop of water to quench our thirst. But grace has provided for us water to quench that thirst and satisfy our longing. Essayist Charles Lamb said, "I walk up and down thinking I am happy, and knowing I am not." To many, satisfaction is about as rare as the bald eagle. The New York Times estimated that about 5 million people living in America had tried to kill themselves. One couple wrote to a syndicated columnist: "We have a nice home, well-furnished; a new car, and money in the bank. Our two sons have finished college and are happily married and doing well. We have excellent jobs and our combined incomes make it possible for us to live comfortably. So why are we writing this letter? Because suddenly, we find life empty and boring. Are we different, or does this happen to all couples in later mid-life?" The answer to direction in life, protection for life, and satisfaction to life is the personal experiencing of God's abundant grace. Harry Truman, at first thought he lost the election in 1945. The headlines read, "Dewey defeats Truman." Later when the count was all in, Truman had defeated Dewey. Truman wrote to his mother, "I had hurried to the White House to see the president and when I got there, I found out I was the president." Ruth came from Moab with nothing, only to find out when she got to the field of Boaz she had everything. How abundant is the grace of God. Thirdly, think with me of: 3. HOW ASTOUNDING THE GRACE OF GOD Everything had happened so fast. One day she didn't know where the next meal was coming from and the next day her life is blessed beyond comprehension. Notice how her experience of grace affected her. First, it was all: A) Overwhelming To Her Heart Notice verse 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?" It was more than she could believe. All she could say was, "Why?" I submit unto you that there is nothing anymore overwhelming to the heart than what God has done for us in Christ." I heard about a woman that had 16 children. They were like stair steps. As you can imagine she had her hands full. One day one little girl fell into a tar pit. She had tar all over her. It was in her hair, ears, up her nose, and under her fingernails. She was covered in tar. Her mother started trying to clean her up and in frustration said, "I declare, I believe it would be easier to have another one than clean this one up." The truth is, we were all a mess. There was nothing in us or about us that deserved God's love. There was nothing in us that merited God giving His Son to die for us on a cross. In the state and condition we were in, we should have been in hell. Most of us were a lot like the daughter of Jonathan Edward's, the great preacher, theologian, and revivalist. He had a daughter with an ungovernable temper. It was not well-known to the outside, but was regretfully known in the home. A worthy young man fell in love with her and wanted to marry her. He came to see Edward's and asked for her hand in marriage. He abruptly said, "You can't have her." The young man, taken back somewhat said, "But I love her." "You can't have her," again was Edward’s reply. "She loves me." "You can't have her." Finally the young man asked why. Edward's said, "Because she is not worthy of you." The young man said, "She is a Christian, is she not?" Edward's replied, "Yes, she is a Christian, but the grace of God can live with some people with whom no one else could ever live." It is overwhelming to the heart to realize that God would love us, save us, and make us His own child. In the word's of the songwriter, "And it's all because of God's amazing grace." If we are so undeserving, then why? Notice verse 11-12, "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. 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." She had experienced the kindness and grace of Boaz because she had embraced the people of Israel and had trusted the Lord God of Israel. Paul said in Ephesians 2:8, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." The amazing and abundant grace of God is experienced when by faith one puts their trust in the Lord. It is not because we earn it, deserve it, merit it, achieve it, but because we put our trust in the Lord as Saviour and Lord. Still, it is overwhelming to the soul! Furthermore, we see that what she experienced was: B) Overflowing From Her Heart Notice verse 13, "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." Overflowing from her heart was a desire to please Boaz. She wanted to find favor in his eyes. A desire to please God is the proper response to God's grace. As Robert Robinson said, "Oh to grace how grace how great a debtor, daily I'm constrained to be. Let Thy goodness, like a fetter bind my wandering soul to Thee." An understanding of God’s grace makes us realize what a debtor to grace we are. May God bind our wandering heart to Him! |
