Impedance to the Supply of Grace
Text
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness comes by the Law, then Christ is dead in vain. Galatians 2:21 KJV
I do not ignore or nullify the [gracious gift of the] grace of God [His amazing, unmerited favor], for if righteousness comes through [observing] the Law, then Christ died needlessly. [His suffering and death would have had no purpose whatsoever.].”
Galatians 2:21 AMP
We established in this series that grace means unmerited, unearned, and undeserved favor. It is a gift from God. It means we have a choice to either receive or reject it.
From our text, it is evident that certain things can hinder or impede the Grace of God.
The Greek word translated as “Frustrate” in our text is “Athetos” to set aside, i.e. (by implication) to disesteem, neutralize or violate — cast off, despise, disannul, frustrate, bring to naught.
Many people listen to the message of the Gospel and refuse to accept God’s salvation because of its simplicity and the fact that it is free, with No Works (Self-effort or sacrifice is required except your faith – Belief in the finished work of the Cross). They want it on their terms. This is what it exactly means to “Frustrate” the Grace of God.
Even as believers, we can subtly frustrate God’s Grace in our lives if we are not careful. When you expect God to come through for you, meet your needs, or intervene in a situation in a particular way, when you try to “box” God in a corner, you may likely be frustrating the Grace of God in your life. That mental attitude or thinking that this is how God will work or meet a need can be a limitation and impedance to the Grace of God.
When dealing with God, you cannot lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3: 5,6.
Moreover, his understanding is unsearchable ( Isaiah 40: 28).
There is a similar lesson from a story in 2 Kings 5.
Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram (Syria), was considered a great man by his king and was highly respected because the Lord had given victory to Aram (Syria) through Naaman. He was also a man of courage, but he was a leper. The Arameans (Syrians) had gone out in bands [as raiders] and had taken captive a little girl from the land of Israel, and she waited on Naaman\s wife [as a servant]. She said to her mistress, “I wish that my master [Naaman] were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would heal him of his leprosy.” Naaman went in and told his master [the king], “The girl who is from the land of Israel said such and such.” Then the king of Aram (Syria) said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel (Jehoram, the son of Ahab).” So he left and took with him ten talents of silver and 6,000 shekels of gold and ten changes of clothing. So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stopped at the entrance of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you, and you will be clean.” But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Indeed! I thought He would at least come out to [see] me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place [of leprosy] and heal the leper.’ Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus [in Aram], better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. Then his servants approached and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more than when he has said to you, ‘Wash and be clean?’ ” So he went down and plunged himself into the Jordan seven times, just as the man of God had said; and his flesh was restored like that of a little child, and he was clean.
2 Kings 5:1-5, 9-14 AMP
Naaman would have… “Frustrated” the Grace of God if he hadn’t obeyed. Notice he had some preconceived idea or mindset.
- First, he came with a lot of money.
Most likely, the other places he had visited before now in search of cure and remedy had demanded money from him. - He despised or set aside the instructions because he felt the other rivers were cleaner and better, and that rightly so ( Historically, those rivers were cleaner than River Jordan)
God has a good sense of humor and ways of teaching us lessons….” Where would you naturally want to bathe in a clean or muddy pool ( especially if you needed to clean up)?
Some people are in tight situations financially. Take your needs to Him in Prayer and allow Him to help you. Cast the Care upon Him. Don’t allow negative thoughts of worry to consume you. He can take care of you. Do what He tells you no matter how unreasonable it seems, and see the Grace of God turn things around for you and your family in Jesus’ name. Amen
Prayer: Lord, I declare Your Grace is sufficient for me. I refuse to lean on my understanding; in all my ways, I acknowledge you. I declare boldly that You are my waymaker, helper, and deliverer. Thank you for Your faithfulness in my life.
Photo by Tyler Palmer on Unsplash