Читать книгу There is More: When the World Says You Can’t, God Says You Can - Brian Houston, Brian Houston - Страница 22

I was far from a perfect kid. Growing up in the 1960s in Wellington, New Zealand, I struggled with a disproportionate need for acceptance and an overarching fear of rejection by my peers. On top of this, I faced the constant temptation that is part and parcel of adolescence and the teenage years: temptation to compromise, fit in, and seek approval.

Yet at the same time, I grew up with a strong desire to serve and honor God with my life and a belief that if I could keep myself pure in three specific areas, I would experience His abundant blessings. I believe that it was the Holy Spirit who gave me strong convictions relating to my habits, morality, and priorities. Even though youthful temptation took me to the very edges, I managed to get through my childhood and youth with those three areas of obedience intact.

Now, I know that God’s grace and favor are not based on human effort and that there is nothing you can do that will make Him love you more and nothing you can do that will make Him love you less. You can’t force God’s hand of blessing by striving and works; it’s not “Do good, get good.” In fact, the Bible tells us that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. But I’m also certain that He honors obedience and that it can be seen and outworked through simple faithfulness. In other words, obedience and faithfulness are inseparable partners, flowing beautifully together.

Just as we can be confident that love is a doorway to marriage, discipline is necessary for weight loss, and sowing will always usher in reaping, so it is my belief that you will not experience the abundant life God promises without good old-fashioned obedience—obedience to His Word and obedience to follow His precepts and trust in His promises. Obedience is a precursor to abundance. And the best part is, if you’ve struggled with obedience and faithfulness in the past, there is no time like the present to begin again.