Obedience is Better Than Sacrifice

Photo by Paul Seling from Pexels

---

To obey the Lord is greater to Him than what you do in his name.

He has always called for us to be willing and wanting. To have faith and to go and do what he called us to when He tells us to.

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.

1 Samuel 15:22 NIT

This scripture tells me that God would rather have your full undivided attention and a true relationship with you than for you to just give him things and walk away. He doesn’t want a part time relationship. He wants to spend quality time with you and me.

Likewise we are to have real relationships with other Christians and to lead by example in this world.

What are you sacrificing?

When you do sacrifice what are you sacrificing? What are you bringing to the Lord that is worthy for Him to consume?

Cain and Able both brought something before the Lord. However, only one was an acceptable offering. Instead of Cain “getting his weight up” and asking God why his offering was rejected and what he needed to do to get it right; Cain murdered Able due to jealousy and envy.

3In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

Genesis 4:3-7

Did you consider the cost?

Did you count up the cost? Do you know what following Christ means? Jesus said on many occasions in many different ways that in order to be His disciple you would have to not only count up the cost, but you will have to pick up your cross and follow Him.

There is work involved in being a Christian. Hard work. Life doesn’t automatically get easier just because you say “I’m a Christian”.

Because once you say that, once you make a conscious decision to walk the narrow path, all of Hell now sees you as the enemy. There is no more being able to go over to “the other side” you will never be able to get away with it again.

You’ve been marked for the Lord’s work. They can see it all over you spiritually and you don’t even know it because you can’t see in the spirit to know what’s going on. That mark from the Lord, to Satan and his minions is a target on your back.

This is why Jesus wanted us to be sure in our decision to walk with Him and to serve Him. He told us that we would be hated for His name’s sake.

The tradeoff is that we will gain spiritual assistance, and that God will give us power. This power that He gives us is greater than that of what is coming against us.

And we need to know, believe, and stand on that. He promised to never leave us nnor forsake us.

When we get in His presence and we spend time with Him, when we fast and pray, is when He opens up our understanding. He gives us access to the Kingdom and to Kingdom resources.

We need to understand that when we give up the old life He gives us a new life. This new life was the original life He had in His will for our lives. Which was stolen away from us at the fall of mankind back in the garden.

What did your sacrifice cost?

And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the Lord , nor offer burnt offerings without cost.

1 Chronicles 21:24 KJV

What did you pay? Did you put your whole heart into seeking after the Lord? Seek first the Kingdom of God and all His righteousness and all these things shall be added…

Do you diligently seek Him? Do you do what He nudges you to do, even when you don’t necessarily feel like doing it?

When you give your offering how is your heart?

Are you at war with your siblings in Christ? Did you go back and try to resolve the issues between you before bringing your offering to God? Lest you forgive, you will not be forgiven.

Is it even your sacrifice or did you take what belonged to another and offer it as your own?

Who does your life reflect when others see you? God or Satan?

These are rhetorical questions. But much needed.

Have a good day!

#WWJD

Be Blessed!

Advertisement