God’s word says it is better to obey than to sacrifice. Can we understand why this is so? All of God’s commandments are good and for the good of all God’s creation. Even the world sees that they are good in that we can get into trouble if we steal, murder, lie in court. Simple laws are meant for our protection like; stop signs, red lights, and speed limits. For those of us who are true followers of Jesus the Son of God, the commandments go much deeper or at least they should. Those of us who know God’s commandments and ways are held to a higher standard. As I have grown and asked for a closer walk it has become scarier for me to think of disobeying God. Even though I know I can’t be perfect in this world and I need to run to God when I falter and struggle with what the right direction is and I feel that it should be simple for me by now. Life in this world is not simple. God gave us the gift to choose to love and to follow Him. Often, though we want to follow Him, we let fear and lies get in the way.
1 Samuel 15:22-23 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 to sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you from being king.”
Saul gave Samuel the excuse that he feared the people. That excuse did not change the outcome. God is the ONE who knows our hearts and hidden things there of.
Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
King David would quickly repent, ask for restoration and for God not to take His Spirit from him when confronted with his sin. The absence of God’s Spirit is darkness and that darkness is very dark. I always want to do what is right but when I falter I want to run to God’s light quickly and desperately because the darkness as awful. In God is light, love, peace, and joy. God will shine His light on our sin through His Holy Spirit in convicting us of our sin and lead us to restoration with Him and others. Are we listening? Will we listen? God will direct us if we will listen and follow His correction. The devil will keep beating us down as long as we let him. God will forgive instantly and direct us to do what is right. Will we choose God? In God is love, peace, joy, gentleness, kindness, goodness, self control, and forgiveness and hope.
Joh 14:15 If you love Me keep My commandments.
John 16:13 However, when He the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
Ephesians 4:29-32 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. AND do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Are we listening? Who are we listening to? Excuses do not go well with God when we know the truth of God.
