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Total obedience

“But I did obey the Lord,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.” ¹

 

One of the most common ways we step outside of the will of God is by partial obedience, doing most of what He asks, but reserving certain areas.

 

King Saul fell into this trap. After God commanded the Israelites to completely destroy the Amalekites and their possessions, they spared the best cattle and the leader, Agag. When Samuel arrived, Saul announced that he had fulfilled the command. But when questioned, he blamed the people, even though he was the king, and no important decision was made without his approval. Then Saul gave an explanation: the animals had been kept for sacrifice to the Lord. Saul seemed pious, but Samuel was not fooled and pointed to his action for what it really was: rebellion.

 

We can do the same. Our reasons for half-hearted obedience may seem logical to us, and we may even believe that we honor God. But the Lord does not judge our obedience by our intentions or justifications.

 

Have you been justifying a decision that does not quite align with what God wants? Partial obedience may seem like a reasonable compromise, but it prevents us from experiencing the fullness of walking in the will of the Lord.

(Read all of 1 Samuel 15)

 

Suggested Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I ask Your forgiveness because I have often justified my partial obedience. Please examine my heart and allow me to see if there are still areas in my life where I am obeying my way and not the way You want. Beloved Father, lead me through Your Holy Spirit and Your Word to align my obedience according to Your will. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

 

1.      1 Samuel 15:20-23 (NIV).

 

The Encounter for today was written by: Rosina N.