Introduction: One of the most exciting parts of this book is the concept of the grace of God is seen in every portion of the book. It is as true that grace finds us. Most people are not looking for grace but grace finds us. Grace is favor bestowed on someone who doesn't deserve it and can't earn it.

Without getting off the beaten path but so much, I want to give some of the descriptions of grace. These are great thoughts.

Grace is Great. Acts 4:33

“And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”

Grace is Rich. Ephesians 1:7

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace”

Ephesians 2:7

“That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

Grace is Exceeding. 2^nd Corinthians 9:14

“And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.”

Grace is all-sufficient. 2^nd Corinthians 12:9

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Grace is all-abundant. Romans 5:15,17,20

“But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound”

Grace is Glorious. Ephesians 1:6

“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”

In the book of Luke the fifteen chapter, we find three lost items as told to us by the Lord Jesus in parable form. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Who among us has lost things? None of us is the right answer. The three parables represent the three persons of the Godhead. In the first parable, we find the parable of the lost sheep. The shepherd left the flock to find that one lost sheep. That sheep was not looking for him. The shepherd found it. Isn’t that the way that we were? We were lost and wandering around in the danger of hell and the Saviour found us. That makes me want to say “Hallelujah, what a Saviour”!

In the second, we find the parable of the lost silver. When the woman finds the lost silver she is rejoicing and wants others to rejoice also. This woman is a picture of the Holy Spirit looking for us. When we are found by grace, He wants rejoice also.

The third parable is the parable of the lost son. He lost himself in sin and depravity. When he came to himself he came home to the father. This is the perfect picture of saved men and women who get away from the Lord. When we come to ourselves, our Father runs to us and when we make our confession, He forgives because of Calvary.

I know I ventured off from Ruth but I want to give us a fresh reminder of grace. Ruth did not look for grace but grace found her. It was the mercy of God that kept her until the grace of God found her.

In this short book of the Bible, we find three main characters. We find Naomi. We spent much time on her in the first chapter. We find Ruth, the young Moabitess woman who married Naomi’s son. She is a young lady from a pagan country who comes to know the true God. She is a picture in this passage of a brand new convert, a young Christian who is just beginning to learn about and grow in the things of the Lord. She is just beginning to experience the great blessings of the Lord and His grace. She will be the main focus of this chapter.

Then in this chapter we are introduced to Boaz. He is a clear picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. More will be said about him later in this lesson and in future lessons.

We are admonished in 2^nd Peter 3:18 to grow in grace. This is exactly what Ruth does in this chapter. She grows in grace as she the hand of God blessing her. We will never grow in grace until we go search for grace. The place we search in three arenas. It is the time of prayer, Bible reading and study and time in God’s house. Then we will grow in grace. By it is the searching for the growth of grace that helps us and that is what Ruth is going to do in these three verses. She is searching for grace in all the right places.

I. THE PURPOSE IN HER SEARCH

Vs. 2

“And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.”

A. She Was Searching For Food. She is in a foreign land where there is no welfare. She has no money. All she has is the God of her in-laws. But that is enough to go searching.

Ruth wants to go to the fields and glean ears of corn. She and Naomi need food to eat. The main thrust of her search is to find food for the body. This brings me to an important thought. There are some folks we will never reach with the gospel because they are physically hungry. If she does not get food, Naomi and herself may have been in the right place but would have starved to death if she had never gone searching for food.

She illustrates that desire that is birthed in the heart of the child of God at conversion: a desire to know more about the Lord and to grow in Him. This to me is the greatest part of being saved. To get to know the God of the universe is a real way instead of some abstract way is more precious than a home in heaven.

Job 23:12

“Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”

Jeremiah 15:16

“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.”

1^st Peter 2:2

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby”

Philippians 3:10

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death”

It is learning to partake of the Word of God that causes growth in the life of a believer! Nothing of eternal value replaces Bible reading, study and prayer. The longer I am saved, the more I find I want to know about the Bible. The more I learn about the Bible shows me how much more I want to know the Lord Jesus, the center theme of the Bible.

What should we do with our Bible?

Hebrews 4:12

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

1. Study it through Joshua 1:8

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

2^nd Timothy 2:15

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

If you have study it through, you will find that you have only scratched the surface. It is inexhaustible. The best part is that we will have all of eternity to learn it from the author Himself.

2. Pray it in. Psalm 119:18

“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”

Jeremiah 33:3

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

When you read something that speaks to your heart, you need to ask the Lord to help you put it in your life.

3. Write it down. Isaiah 30:8

“Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever”

One reason why we do not retain something that the Lord has given us from His word is that we don’t write it down. Old-fashioned journaling is rarely done in the days in which we live. It may be one of the reasons why we have shallow Christians today. May I suggest a simple notebook with your Bible?

4. Work it out. James 1:22

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

When you put the Bible in your life, you need to have it sticking out of you somewhere. This shows others that the Bible is really real in your life.

5. Pass it on Psalm 119:27, 46

“Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.” “I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.”

Haggai 2:19

“Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.”

If the Word of God is kept to ourselves, then we will not be doing what the Lord wanted us to do. He wants us to pass the Word of God to all.

Conclusion: Before going any further, I want to end this portion of this chapter with this poem in regards to the Bible.

"PRECIOUS BIBLE "

Though it's cover is worn

And the pages are torn

And though places bear traces of tears

Yet more precious than gold

Is that book worn and old,

That can shatter and scatter my fears.

This old book is my guide,

Tis a friend by my side,

It will lighten and brighten my way,

And each promise I find

Soothes and gladdens the mind,

As I read it and heed it each day.

To this book I will cling,

Of it's worth I will sing

Though great losses and crosses be mine,

I cannot despair

Though surrounded by care,

While possessing this treasure unknown.

Next time we explore further as we look at found by grace.