“…To obey is better than sacrifice…” – 1st Samuel 15:22 (NIV)
Saints of God, Abraham demonstrated that true faith is shown through heartfelt obedience rather than empty rituals. His love, trust, and faith in God are momentous, for he chose to trust God without any reservation. The account is recorded in Genesis 22:1-18. In summary, God commands Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, as a test of faith. Abraham obeys, but at the last moment, when he was about to sacrifice his only son with a knife, an angel of the Lord stopped him, acknowledging his fear of God.
One can surmise that if Abraham had informed Sarah (who gave birth to Isaac at age ninety) that he was going to take her only child to sacrifice him to the Lord, the account of him leaving his home to obey God’s commands would have been filled with “contentious adventures”. Friends, whenever we receive an urgent assignment from God, we must guard against discussion with anyone. Just do it! Abraham did not discuss his plan to sacrifice his son with his wife or his servants; he focused solely on the mission at hand.
Brothers and sisters, partial obedience is not obedience; delayed obedience is disobedience. King Saul was removed from his throne for partial obedience to God’s instructions. It is God’s command that we love one another. The Scripture in 1st John 4:20 (ESV) states, ‘If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.’ God has tied our claim to love Him to how we treat each other.
The acid test for our unswerving, fervent love for God is determined by our love for people. To love God is to be connected to God and His heart. Since His heart is love for people, you cannot really be connected with God without also loving people. Hating our brothers means creating divisions, hostility, and conflict.
Brethren, like God, we can love the sinner and hate the sin, which should not be accommodated, excused, or taken lightly (Romans 12:9). We can, as disciples of Christ, show the sinners respect and fear God (1st Peter 2:17), praying for them (1st Timothy 2:1) and witnessing to them of Christ.
It is a true act of love to treat someone with respect and kindness, even when we do not approve of their lifestyle or sinful choices. Let’s allow the unswerving, fervent love for God and people to be ever present in our hearts as we minister to them.
Read: Leviticus 19:34; Mark 12:30-31
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 25:16-22; Mark 7:31-37; Mark 8:1-13; Exodus 35; Exodus 36