“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
I sat on the edge of my 12 year olds bed and expressed to
him my disappointment and sadness I felt because he hadn’t listened to the
instruction I had given him that day. He simply gets distracted during the life
in the day of a 12 year boy enjoying his summer. I explained to him that when
he didn’t obey my instruction, even though he wasn’t being spiteful about it,
that it was disrespectful and didn’t show me honor. During this conversation
with my son, immediately, God spoke to my heart, in a very simple and loving
way, but very convicting, “How do you
think I feel Suzanne when you don’t obey me?” I prayed right away asking
God for forgiveness, thinking I’ll get it right tomorrow. Well, I didn’t. For
several nights, I had to have this conversation with my son about him being
intentional with being obedient to the instruction I leave for him during the
day. But each night, God continually
reminded me of how He feels when I am not listening to Him and the instruction
He has been giving me. What in your life is God instructing you to do? Maybe it’s
committing your time and heart to read the bible and grow closer to Him through
that. Maybe it’s forgiving someone that has hurt you. Maybe it’s doing that
kind act for a stranger that pulls you way out of your comfort zone. I think
many people tend to think of being obedient as to the ‘big’ things in life. The
little everyday things in life can have a huge impact. Pray about what you need
to be obedient to God with.
Whether you are a parent, a boss, a teacher, etc., you may
have this realistic expectation that when you give instruction that it should be
obeyed. God has this same expectation, He gives us instruction and expects and
desires us to obey Him. Imagine how different situations in your life could
turn out if you obey your Abba Father, your Creator who has a perfect and
wonderful plan for your life! Romans 8:28 “And
we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who
have been called according to His purpose.”
Let's Reflect: 1 John 2:3-6 “We know that we have come to know Him if we
obey His commands. The man who says, “I know Him,” but does not do what He commands
is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys His word, God’s
love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever
claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.” 1 John 3:16-24 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for
us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material
possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the
love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but
with actions and in truth. This then is how we know how we set our hearts at
rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than
our hearts, and He knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn
us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because
we obey His commands and do what please Him. And this is His command: to
believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He
commanded us. Those who obey His commands live in Him, and He in them. And this
is how we know that He lives in us: We know it by the Spirit He gave us.”
PRAYER: Heavenly
Father, oh, thank you for the grace you extend me. Please continue to convict
my heart in the areas of my life that I am not obedient to you in. Please
stretch and grow me bringing me out of dis-obedience and giving me the courage
to obey even the tiniest command you have given to me. With all my love, I pray
in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Be Blessed…Be Bold in the
name of Jesus!
Suzanne Williams
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