Obedience

God the Father has his eye on each of you, and has determined by the work of the Spirit to keep you obedient through the sacrifice of Jesus. May everything good from God be yours! - 1 Peter 1:2 (Message)

For so long I lived like my continued salvation was determined by the extent of my efforts to be obedient to God's commands.

It felt like God had opened the door to a relationship that I had been looking for all my life but I couldn't maintain the level of obedience that was required to maintain my presence. I became a miserable follower of Jesus. Continually failing at being who I thought I should be.

Then one day I read that I had a partner in this struggle and this partner had ALREADY DETERMINED my obedience. This partner was God himself through the Holy Spirit.

Being brought up in a Pentecostal church, I'd heard much about the Holy Spirit. He had gifts of miraculous power, which pointed people to God. I know that he could give me the ability to speak in an unknown language but I had missed the fundamental point, the Holy Spirit was now my partner in my salvation and sanctification. The door had be cracked open and instead of holding on to the lintels by my fingernails the Holy Spirit took a firm grasp of my had and sat with me at the table. Now I strive still, but not through fear of expulsion, but through a deep love of being accepted as I am & the continual presence of a God who always wants my best.

And he has already DETERMINED MY OBEDIENCE not because of my ability or will power but through the SACRIFICE OF JESUS. Who am I to argue with Him?

Determined obedience looks very different when your obedience has been determined!