A departure today from journeying through the book of John to reflect on celebrating the birth of Christ.
It's been a few weeks since I've written, and frankly I'm convicted of my disobedience. Even more so when I consider that I stopped obeying God's will so I could celebrate the birth of His Son. Does that sound ironic to you? It does to me! And it reminds me of a story found in 1 Samuel 15. It starts in verse 2, with Samuel giving King Saul instructions to attack the Amalekites. The Lord has said that the Amalekites are to be completely destroyed, along with everything that belongs to them - nothing was to be spared. Saul takes his army and attacks the Amalekites, just as he's been told.
He starts off in the right direction. Something happens though, between verses 4 and 8. Saul decides he knows what's best, takes matters in his own hands, saves the king of the Amelekites and the best of thier livestock. When he sees Samuel, Saul is quick to tell him that the Lord's instructions have been carried out. When Samuel hears the bleating of sheep and lowing of cattle and confronts Saul, the king justifies his disobedience by saying that these were kept to sacrifice to God. He disobeyed, so that he would have something good to give God.
It's here that Samuel replies:
"Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." 1 Samuel 15:22
So it gives me pause to think that while Saul was hustling around taking care of cattle, sheep and a king, he should've been obeying God instead. God's instruction was to destroy the things that now came between Him and Saul. God didn't want the stuff - the livestock, He wanted Saul's obedience.
Why?
Well, I guess we will visit the book of John after all! It's there we find what Jesus had to say about obedience.
"Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him." John 14:21
Why did God want Saul's obedience? Why does God want our obedience? It shows Him that we love Him, and that's what He wants from us!
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:5
Happy New Year!
Missed your blogs, but also know you have been obeying God by loving your children these last few weeks. You ministered God's love to your family. What a precious act of obedience! One of God's commands is to love one another and when we do His love is made complete in us (1 John 4:10-12). It has brought me joy to see your families all together and seeing God's love lived out as you loved each other!
ReplyDeleteThank you LuAnne! It was a precious time, and I hope you've had the same with your dear family!
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