Sacrifice or Obedience?
1 Samuel 15:22 says …
“What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice…” (NLT)
Oftentimes, I find myself sacrificing when I should be obeying. And way too often, the sacrifice becomes more about me than the Lord. “Hey! Look at my sacrifice!” Rather than just quietly listening and obeying.
I find myself in a situation and think, “What am I going to do?” Which, in essence, is the same as saying, “Let’s see, how can I sacrifice something of me to fix this?”
What I should be saying is, “God, what are you going to do about this, how have you already provided, and how can I obey you in it?”
As men, we get accustomed to laying down our lives for family, job, and countless situations, which is good, but we get quite accustomed to sacrifice more than obedience. But there are so many times when the sacrifice of Christ has covered us, allowed the opportunity to simply obey Him, and move into what He has already done—the sacrifice has already been made; the work has been done. All He now asks and requires is obedience.
So, the question for today is this … where are you sacrificing that you should be obeying? Then once you answer that question, stop and listen to Him.
2 comments
Dave Woodruff August 7, 2014
I really needed to hear this. I never saw the clear choice before.
Robert Noland August 7, 2014
Thanks for your engagement and encouragement, Dave. Glad it helped! - Robert