| Photo by Randy Laybourne on Unsplash
Obedience to God is not an option but an obligation! We have been looking at King Saul, who started by serving the Lord but then began to compromise in obeying the Lord. It is not how we start the race but how we finish it.
Samuel goes and tells Saul what the Lord told him. Saul is justifying his choices, his disobedience, and then in 1 Samuel 15:22-23 (NLT), we read, “But Samuel replied to Saul, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshipping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, He has rejected you as king.”
What a warning to us today! Sin is a big deal to God! Compromise and disobedience to God is a big deal to God!
Our religious activities, rituals, and rules do not make up for our obedience to God and His Word! We must realize that nothing is more important than walking in obedience to God!
How serious is this to God? “Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshipping idols. Because you have chosen to live this way, Saul, I will reject you as king.”
Lord, help me to listen to Your warning and walk in obedience to You and Your Word!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Pastor Ronald Squibb has been the International Christian Church (ICC) Lead Senior Pastor at Staten Island, New York, since 2011. He draws many experiences from his over 40 years as a pastor and significant emotional life experiences.
His new book, Following the Journey with Jesus, which he co-authored with Daniel McNaughton, was recently published and is getting rave reviews. His daily devotional appears in this publication.
