Introduction.

‘Marshall, you are going to fail' were the first words Mr. Ballot the Afrikaans teacher said to me on my first day in year 11. He had been going through the students in the class alphabetically and when he came to my name he simply looked at me and made that statement. I never said a word, but in my heart and mind declared war on him and spent the next two years fighting many battles. My day of victory was the matriculation external examination which I passed reasonably well. It would be true to say that my relationship with Mr. Ballot was determined by the first words he said to me. What we say and how we say it often has a massive influence on how others perceive us. As Christians we want others to perceive us as faithful and true ambassadors of Christ, therefore we must strive to follow Paul's exhortation given in Colossians 4:6, ‘Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.'  Whatever we say to whomever we say it, it should be filled with grace. The way you speak should reveal to others that your life is filled with grace. Speaking with grace must be our consistent form of speech, if it is not we grieve the Holy Spirit and others will think of us as hypocrites.

In Ruth 2:4-16 we have the conversations between Boaz and the foreman, and Boaz and Ruth recorded in detail. The substance and nature of these conversations reveals a great deal about the character of those speaking. In the Bible the first words spoken words by a person are very significant and often set the tone of the person's character. The first recorded words of Jesus' public ministry are Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'  Jesus' ministry was essentially a call to repentance. Acts 9:20 tell us that Paul's first sermon focused on the fact that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. Paul's ministry is marked by his defence of the person and work of Jesus Christ.

The first recorded words of Boaz and Ruth are significant as they reveal that their lives were full of grace. In both Boaz and Ruth we find the marks of God's grace in their lives through their speech and conduct. The marks we see in those who loved the Lord in the Old Testament are exactly the same marks as those who have Christ as their first love.

The marks of God's grace that need to be evident in the lives of believers.

1. The first recorded words of Ruth in the Bible are found in Ruth 1:16-17, "Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me." In this declaration Ruth pledges herself to covenant loyalty, loving the Lord and his people. This declaration is transformed into action by accompanying Naomi to Bethlehem even though Naomi tired to dissuade her from doing so. Ruth was a woman of conviction and commitment and she showed it in word and deed. The news of Ruth coming to Bethlehem seems to have been the talk of the town and even the men talked about the Moabitess who had returned with Naomi. Listen to Boaz relating what he had come to believe about Ruth, "It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before.'  Ruth was a woman who made a commitment and followed it through even though it had cost her a great deal. That Ruth was committed to leave her past life in Moab and embrace a new life among the Lord's people in Israel was plainly seen and understood even by those who did not know her personally. I truly believe that the first mark of God's grace that must be evident in believers is their commitment to Christ. Commitment to Christ is loving him as your first love, with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. Commitment is responding positively to Christ's challenge, ‘If you love me keep my commandments.' (John 14:15) Others should know you as a person who is committed to Christ. This should be your reputation among those who know you and those who know of you. The witness of your life must point away from yourself to Christ Jesus your Lord. The witness of Ruth's life pointed to the God she embraced and loved.
   
   
2. Ruth knew that Almighty God was her Lord and she lived in a way that revealed the lordship of her God. If Jesus Christ is your Lord it will make itself known in two very obvious ways.
   
   
   1. If Christ is Lord, then you are his servant. This reality strongly influences the way you understand yourself and the world you live in. The Lordship of Christ squeezes out the sense of pride and self-importance and replaces it with deep humility. When Ruth fell on her face and bowed down before Boaz (verse 10) she was simply humbling herself according to the custom of her day. Some may think that Ruth did this because she felt humiliated by her desperate and destitute situation; she was a nobody with nothing except a bitter mother-in-law. Ruth's humility is seen in her conversations, she is grateful to the Lord and to others who show her kindness. What is Biblical humility? I use the term Biblical humility as there is a secular humility that is nothing like true Biblical humility. According to the Dictionary; ‘Humility as a noun means the state or quality of being humble. Humble as an adjective means 1. Having or showing awareness of one's defects; not proud; not self-assertive 2. Low in condition or rank; lowly' In our world where being popular and not offending others is highly regarded, humility is a willingness to compromise, to be accommodating, to seek peace at any price, to be politically correct to the extreme, to be nice, and bend over backwards to please others. This describes a person without convictions who simply goes with the flow no matter where it is going, and has no backbone. This is a description of a wimp or to use old fashioned slang Mr. Wishy-Washy. The title Mr. Wishy-washy could never be used to describe Christ Jesus and should never be used of his followers. What is Biblical humility? Listen to Al Martin, ‘Humility is not diffidence. Humility is that disposition of honest recognition: He is God, I am but a creature. Listen to Calvin, ‘A short definition of humility. That a man is truly humble who never claims any personal merit in the sight of God, nor proudly despises brethren, or aims at being thought superior to them, but reckons it enough that he is one of the members of Christ, and desires nothing more than that the Head alone should be exalted.'  Humility gives all the glory to God proclaiming ‘I am what I am and do what I do by the grace of God to him be the glory.'  True Biblical humility is the product of seeking to be a faithful and true servant of God. Ruth's humility came from a heart striving to be a faithful and true servant of the Lord. Humility has always been counted as one of the choicest Christian graces and therefore many have sought to fake it. Martyn Lloyd-Jones gave the true test of biblical humility when he said, ‘If our humility is not unconscious it is exhibitionism.' Being humble is the greatest declaration you can make about Christ's Lordship over your life.
      
      
   2. The second way Christ's Lordship must be demonstrated in your life is through meekness. Ruth in contrast to the world in which we live in was filled with gratitude, she was thankful for the favour of God and man. A society that does not have a sense of gratitude is filled with a grumbling and complaining spirit that refuses to acknowledge the hand of God's providence. In our day meekness is seen as a synonym for weakness. The picture behind the concept of meekness is that of a wild and powerful beast made tame. A wild stallion that gives perfect obedience to bit and bridle is meek. Meekness is submission to the Lord, living for his glory rather than for self. Ruth's meekness as Sinclair Ferguson says, ‘is evident in the way she responds to harsh providences. She has recognised and submitted to the hand of God in and through them: she has heard and trusted in the covenant word of God. That is what meekness is: submission to God's providence, listening to God's voice-not least when his word cuts across our native desires, and when his providences cut across all our natural longings. Meekness is saying, "Lord, you have said it, you have done it, and since this is so, I will trust you."' Your humility and meekness form an integral part of your witness that you are committed to Christ and that he is your Lord.
      
      
3. The third mark of God's grace that must be evident in believers is delight in his law. Delighting in God's law is something unbelievers could never do as they see God's law as very restrictive and a kill-joy to life. In a real sense they do not see God's grace in the law, if they see anything they see God's condemnation, and therefore count the law as an enemy. Believers see the Law as an expression of God's grace and mercy towards sinners. How does Ruth's delight in the Law of God reveal itself? When Ruth speaks to Boaz' foreman she asks, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.' Ruth humbly asks for permission even though this was her God given right under his Law. When Ruth speaks to Boaz she humbly asks, ‘Why have I found favour in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?' Concerning foreigners the Law of God says, ‘You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.' (Exodus 22:21) ‘Then I commanded your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the cases between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the stranger who is with him. You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man's presence, for the judgment is God's^.'  (Deut 1:16-17) God's law protected and provided for Ruth as a stranger in a strange land. Boaz recognised the provisions made in the law and describes Ruth as one who has sought refuge under the wings of the Lord God of Israel. The law of God granted her refuge and protected her. Ruth saw grace upon grace in the law of God. In the Ten Commandments we need to see the grace and the mercy of God towards a sinful society. Think of the Ten Commandments as the basis for your God given unalienable rights.  Think of the commandment ‘You shall not steal.' Almighty God gives me the right of ownership, the right to enjoy what I have, and the right not to have it taken away from me unjustly. Think of the commandment ‘You shall not bear false witness.' God gives me the right not to be slandered, the right to be dealt with in truth, the right to be protected from false witnesses. You and I should value these God given rights, and praise the God who has given them to us. We should desire to see all men and woman live according to God's wonderful law. The third mark of God's grace at work in a believer is a delight for God's law as it reveals his wonderful grace and mercy. Unbelievers despise God's law, but those who belong to Christ love it. Does your life witness to the fact that you love God's Law?
   
   
4. The fourth mark of God's grace at work in Ruth is loving kindness. Boaz recognises this and praises Ruth for all that she had done to help Naomi since the death of her husband Chilion. Ruth was gleaning to provide food not only for herself, but also for Naomi. The work of gleaning she was doing was aimed at showing loving kindness towards Naomi. Loving kindness is an important witness to the grace of God at work in believers. Listen to Paul in Ephesians 4:28, ‘Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labour, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.' The fruit of repentance for the thief is loving kindness towards those in need. Loving kindness features very strongly in Jesus' teaching on the day of judgement. Listen to Matthew 25:34-40, ‘Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' Loving kindness reveals the reality of the grace of God in the believer. We need to recognise that our acts of loving-kindness are a major aspect of our witness to the God of all grace whom we love.
   
   
5. Turning to Boaz we note that the first words that come out of his mouth are, ‘The LORD be with you.'  Boaz' workers respond by saying, ‘The LORD bless you.' ‘The narrator,' according to Iain Duguid ‘has included this interchange so that we can immediately tell that Boaz honours the Lord in his work and is respected by his workers.' From the details given to us about Boaz we know that he was a God centred man, therefore this greeting is not used thoughtlessly and mindlessly as if it was just the custom, Boaz truly desired to see the Lord's blessing on others. Living a God-centred-life is perhaps the most important mark of those who have God's grace working in them and through them.  Godliness in Boaz is present in his attitude towards his workers and the young women who lived under his protection. He dealt with Ruth not only according to the letter of the Lord, but also in the spirit of the law. God had been gracious to him therefore he was gracious towards Ruth. When Jesus is asked which commandment was the greatest he answered saying, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.' Boaz loved the Lord and also loved his neighbour; he was a man who rightly understood and followed through a God-centred life. As Sinclair Ferguson says, ‘Notice how Boaz interprets this law of love. Not as a man who goes away and does his sums, Pharisee-like, and says, "Now- how small a margin can I leave (in my field) in order to make sure that I leave plenty of profit margin (in my bank account)? Never! Love shows the fullness of the grace of God in the law. In Boaz' hands, the law of God is an instrument to display the riches of the ‘Hesed' (covenant love) of his Lord. He literally heaps blessings on Ruth and Naomi.' It is vital to grasp the connection between love and law. Whatever service or obedience we offer to the Lord or man, if love is withheld the law is not fulfilled. The reason you do not steal must be because you love God and man too much to steal. This is true for every command that God has given. As the Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, ‘Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.' Christianity without love is a false religion. Love without obedience to God is a satanic substitute for God's Law. A God-centred-life is marked by love for God and man, love must be the silver chord that runs through and must run through everything we say, do and think. The witness of your life must be undergirded by love for God and man. Boaz and Ruth in their conversations and behaviour reveal a great love for God and his people.
   
   
6. The first words Boaz spoke to Ruth in verse 8 are filled with kindness and tenderness. Instead of calling Ruth a Moabitess or a foreigner he refers to her as ‘my daughter.' On this Iain Duguid comments as follows, ‘Can you imagine the impact those words must have had on Ruth, the outsider? These were the first kind words she had heard since she left Moab.' Boaz was a man in whom the grace of God was at work and it showed in his gracious manner in which he spoke to Ruth. He was giving obedience to the exhortation of Paul in Colossians 4:6, ‘Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.' 

Conclusion.

The witness of your life must reveal that the grace of God is in your life, the evidences of God's grace in you are love for God and man, a clear commitment to Christ, a demonstration of submitting to his Lordship, a delight in his law and loving kindness towards all men and women. The witness of your life must show that you have been transformed by the mighty power of God. We need to watch our tongues, guard our hearts and control our minds and rule our wills in order to do that which honours our LORD Jesus Christ. May the Lord give us grace to be true and faithful witnesses to gospel. If the evidences of God's grace at work in you are absent in your life, you need to seriously consider your spiritual state as without these evidences you have no reason to assume God's grace is at work in you.