Daily we have come to understand, either by personal or learned experiences, what it means to FRUSTRATE or to be frustrated. Amongst other definitions, the Webster (1913) dictionary definitions explains my thought in this instance –
“…To render invalid or of no effect” and “…To prevent from attaining a purpose.”
It can be quite a painful experience to feel frustrated or become frustrated by situations or other people. In my opinion, frustration is an iota of disappointment in a different sense. You may have tried to explain a simple method to someone who does not believe what you are doing or saying, and as such makes jest of the situation; you will feel frustrated especially when your intention is to help. It will be disappointing to have spent such a useful time or effort on something that will never work or someone who will never understand.
Also looking at the word “GRACE,” the Webster (1913) dictionary has it as -
“Inherent excellence, endowment or characteristic fitted to win favour or confer pleasure or benefit.”
And it extends to imply,
“A state of one who is under such divine influence.”
Notice the word “divine?”
Grace as some say, is the influence to gain favour and excellence by no doing of yours, rather bestowed on you divinely. However, if you do not take cognizance of this grace, or are ignorant of it, you will not and cannot walk in it.
Now here is my point: Everyone is bestowed with this grace from God. This grace makes everything you need to do easy and it opens doors of opportunity to you with unhindered access. But if you are ignorant of this grace and its source, it will not come into effect in your life’s circumstances.
Using the analogy of a father who makes an investment for his children and provides them with the relevant document or cheque-book to make necessary withdrawal whenever they are in need. How may millionaires have died debtors without realizing their financial statuses!
Ignorance denies people of losing out or not taking advantage of this grace. Unbelief is another factor. There are some who may have an opportunity to read through this article but have made up their minds not to believe that they have this grace or could obtain it. There is a measure of grace invested into your account as God’s child – take it or leave it – the bible also says so. After such huge investment and a person decide to care less of this grace, it will be frustrating to the investor.
The Grace of God enables success, but if not taken into cognizance and taken advantage of, it will become fictional instead of being functional. Locking into this grace will defy odds and become a springboard to success in every area of your life. That easy, O yes!
The reason why some people find it difficult to believe is because it is that easy! Some expect it to come at a price. They expect the job to have been done somehow; as such they find it difficult to believe it. The Truth is that, “it is free, but it did not come cheap.” It did come at a price, but it was not yours to pay. It was not a price paid by some random acts of kindness; it was specifically applied to you. This grace was established by the obedience and death of one person – Jesus the Christ.
By one man’s disobedience - Adam, sin crept into the world. As such all became affected by the effect of his act, thereby falling short of the glory (which houses the grace) of God. Nevertheless, through the obedience of one man, who fulfilled the requirements relevant to meet the terms of restoring this glory back to man, Jesus the Christ, grace and truth was restored and established to and in all who believe in Him. *
Yet most people, who tend to believe, still find it difficult to accept all the good and effect of Jesus’ act of obedience and death. They have come to respond to this call by selective acceptance due to their mindset, “how can this all be true?” Some believe they are saved by the death and resurrection of Jesus, but find it difficult to believe that the life they now live cannot be diseased by the effect of the same act that has saved them. By hanging on to this mindset of selective acceptance, they will still struggle with the same thing they used to struggle with when they did not receive the message of the gospel.
The Grace of God that is in Christ Jesus, now bestowed on everyone who is a child of God, has the capability to provide for excellence, complete health, success, prosperity, love as well as forgiveness. Make full use of it. Do not render it invalid or of no effect. Give it a go. Start to depend on God’s grace today.
There was a man named Paul, who tasted of both worlds – ignorance and knowledge of this grace. He has this to say:
“…I do not frustrate the Grace of God.” - Galatian 2:20, The Bible (KJV)
I love the way it is reflected in The Message translation of the Bible and I will leave you with this:
“What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.
Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.” MSG Bible (Galatians 2:19-20)
There is more…
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