And 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 listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the Word of the Lord, He has rejected you…” -1 Samuel 15:22-23 (ESV)
The account of King Saul’s downfall is tabled in the Holy Scriptures from 1 Samuel 15: 1-35. The biblical injunction revealed that irrespective of your God-given position, God has zero tolerance for disobedience to His Word, decrees and commands, and the penalty for this act of rebellion was ultimate rejection. Instead of repentance, King Saul sought, among other things, to blame his subjects for his act of disobeying God’s instructions.
It is evident from the foregoing that partial obedience is disobedience. In fact brethren, delayed obedience, out-right refusal to obey, obeying with an angry spirit, questioning clear commands, and complaining instead of obeying are all disobedience.
The temperature gauge used by God to assess whether we love Jesus is our obedience to His Word. In the Book of John 14:21, Jesus states “Whosoever has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him” (ESV). God also commands that we love our brothers and love our enemies (1 John 4:21 and Matthew 5:44) (NIV).
Beloved, God does not bless disobedience. He may protect us while we are disobedient, but His blessings are reserved for those who obey Him. In the final analysis, living a life of obedience to God-moment by moment-ensures your growth as a Christian.
PRAYER
Jehovah God, we approach Your holy throne in the name of Jesus, to repent for every and/ or any act of disobedience committed against Your Word and we ask for Your divine forgiveness. We submit our spirit, soul and body Father God, and ask in the name of Jesus that Your Holy Spirit sanctify and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
We pray Your Word in Hebrews 12:1(AMP), petitioning that You help us to strip off every weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, so that we may run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
Read: 1 John 4:21; Matthew 5:44; Hebrews 12:1
Bible Reading Guide: Proverbs 12:8-17; John 9:1-34; Ruth 1; Ruth 2
