Am I In The
Field Of Grace?
At
this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, “Why have I
found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?” Ruth 2:10 (NIV)
What makes Christianity different from all
the other religions of the world? Years ago that very question was discussed at
a conference. Some of the participants argued that Christianity is unique in
teaching that God became man. But someone objected, saying that other religions
teach similar doctrines. What about the resurrection? No, it was argued, other
faiths believe that the dead rise again. The discussion grew heated.
C. S. Lewis, a strong defender of
Christianity, came in late, sat down, and asked, "What's the rumpus
about?" When he learned that it was a debate about the uniqueness of
Christianity, he immediately commented, “Oh, that's easy. It's grace."
The nature and character of God is to
exhibit unmerited kindness toward mankind. God generously and lavishly gives us
good that we do not deserve and have not earned. This is the essence of grace,
something that reverberates throughout the pages of the Scriptures.
As an impoverished woman, widow, and
stranger in a new land, Ruth was stuck at the bottom of the social ladder.
However, with human choice and the divine providence of God, Ruth would stumble
upon God’s grace. Ruth went out looking for a field to gather the grain left
behind by the harvesters, which was a basic welfare program established by God,
allowing those in need to work for their food.
Ruth was not from Bethlehem, and as a
newcomer in town, she was shocked at the kindness she received at the hand of
Boaz, the owner of the field where she was gathering. Not only was she allowed
to gather grain, but she also was invited to have lunch with Boaz and the
harvesters. After lunch, Boaz gave instructions to the workmen to watch over
her and help her with her gathering. Boaz went above and beyond what was
required in providing for this poor widow Ruth. In her amazement she asked,
“Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me?”
The answer is simple: because of grace.
The grace of God led her to that field on that day, the grace of God that made
Boaz “happen” to see her, God’s grace gave her favor with Boaz, and God’s grace
was displayed through the heart of Boaz, enabling Ruth to return home that day having
received an overflow of both grain and grace. Ruth had no worries when she was
in the field of grace.
All things in life will fail us.
Friendships will blossom and then die. Health can be an elusive thing. Riches
and wealth will often remain just beyond the reach of our finger tips. Those
we love will pass from the scene leaving a void in our hearts hard to be filled. However,
there is one thing that every child of God possesses that can never fail, never
end, never run out, never run dry and that will never be found to be
insufficient – and that is the grace of God.
The road may be long and dreary, the days
may be filled with difficulties and struggles, but rest assured that there will
be grace sufficient for every need and every trial. Let us pray that we may be
always in the field of grace as Ruth was.
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