OBEDIENCE IS BETTER
MAIN TEXT:
1 Samuel 15: 22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, we ought to obey God rather than men.
To obey means there is an instruction given and has to be adhered to. In the Christian world view, we excel by instructions. Psalm 119:105 says that your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path, which simply implies guidance. Only those willing to follow instructions succeed in life as seen in Joshua 1:8.
Failing to obey God is equal to sin, which leads to death. Adam and Eve lost the paradise in the garden as a result of not obeying, which has cost mankind a lot ever since then.
In 1 Samuel 15:22 – 24, there we see a classic example of how dangerous it is to disobey. Saul lost his kingdom on that account. He had failed in many things in the past and was forgiven, but when he chose to disobey, it cost him his throne, and Samuel told him those hard words “to obey is better to sacrifice”.
So as Christians, it is very dangerous when we refuse to obey the instructions given us, either from the bible or from our spiritual leaders, as they can make the difference between being blessed or cursed.
At the wedding in Cana, wine was in surplus because the servants obeyed a simple instruction which even seemed very foolish (John 2:1 -12).
In the story of Elisha and Namaan, a simple obedience got him his instant healing (2 kings 5:1-19). If truly you are for Christ, you would hear and not only hear, but also obey His voice always. (John 10:27).
TRUST AND OBEY FOR THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO BE HAPPY IN JESUS, THAN TO TRUST AND OBEY
Prayer point- Loving Father, I choose to obey. Let the numerous blessings from obedience follow me now
BY BISHOP NGOZI DURUEKE (HE REIGNS CHAPEL INTERNATIONAL) To send your testimony, write us: mylivingwaterdevotional@gmail.com.