To God, obedience is a big deal. And one of the best ways to see just how importantly He regards it is to learn from those who disobeyed.
One of those is King Saul. When he was told by God to make an end of the Amalekites and to destroy all of their property, he did not do it.
Instead of obeying God, he saved the oxen and the sheep, along with some other things, and then claimed he had obeyed God. But when Samuel heard the oxen and the sheep, Saul knew he had been caught. So he changed his story. He said, “Well, these things are just a sacrifice to God.”
In response to this act of disobedience, this is what Samuel, the prophet, said. We find it in 1 Samuel 15:22,
So Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.”
God does not want religious lip service. He wants obedience. Obedience is better than sacrifice. One reason for that is because you cannot make up by sacrifice what you lose through disobedience.
Another reason why obedience is better than sacrifice is because it is preventative. In Saul’s day, sacrifices were made to cover sin, but if he had obeyed, there would have been no need for sacrifice. Obedience would have prevented his sin.
So do what God desires. Obey what He commands. It is always better.
2 comments:
I definitely need to work on obedience. I seem to be more apt to go for the sacrificial prayer more than sustained obedience.
cas
Clark, I totally agree with you that you need to work on this because I have it down, bro!
Seriously, I need to work on complete obedience to Him. I also know that when I obey I'm under His protection. When I disobey I'm open to suffering the consequences of my disobedience. For example, God says not to jump off the bridge and I do and suffer the consequences of the laws of gravity.
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