Obedience is BETTER than Sacrifice...

"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 also rejected you from being king."
~ 1 Samuel 15: 22 & 23

The context of that passage is interesting. Saul had been told to "devote to destruction" the enemy and all the riches of their land. He chose to follow 80% of the command. His excuse for the disobedience was classic. Basically, he told Samuel that the people saved the best sheep and oxen for offering sacrifices to God.

While that may sound reasonable...that is not what God told him to do. Saul could not see the big picture. His perspective was arguably flawed and obviously incomplete.

Saul wanted to do "good" things in a way that seemed best to him. God's instructions were very specific and Saul simply did not obey Him. As a result God was not satisfied with Saul's effort or his explanation. Saul had failed to show love for God and respect for His Word. It cost him a position of influence and it hurt his relationship with the King of Kings.

We demonstrate our love for God and His Word when we obey. But, this is not a heavy-handed relationship! Most people misunderstand the purpose of obedience...they put the cart before the horse. The word "Obey" is distasteful because it seems to defy our sense of autonomy.

We are not sovereign. I don't know why that idea appeals to us so much. We can't exert much influence on even the most minute of life's circumstances - so how do otherwise "reasonable" people assume to declare ourselves King over our own lives?

We need to stop looking at OBEDIENCE as a means to an end...and realize that it is actually the product of a life lived in reverence to a benevolent God.

Even our obedience is sub-par at it's very best. So, it certainly isn't the performance that impresses our Creator. However, when we seek His Will and truly care about what He says in His Word we find that living in obedience is an appropriate gesture of gratitude.

We each have a choice.

The best option honors our Creator.

Please choose to walk humbly before God.