“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” (1 Samuel 15:22).
TEXT — 1 Samuel 15:20-23
Message
Roger Staubach, who led the Dallas Cowboys to the World Championship in 1971, admitted that his position as a quarterback who did not call his own signals was a source of trial for him. His coach sent in every play. He told Roger when to pass, when to run and only in emergency situations could he change the play. Though he considered the coach to have a “genius mind” when it came to football strategy, pride counselled him to run his own team. Roger later said, “I faced up to the issue of obedience. Once I learned to obey there was harmony, fulfilment, and victory.”
King Saul had received command from God on how to deal with Amalek (1 Samuel 15:1-3). Although the instructions were very vivid and simple, his depraved heart led him to deviate from absolute conformity with God’s command, and gratify his personal desires, instead. On sighting Prophet Samuel, Saul quickly welcomed him with deceptive words, claiming, “I have obeyed the voice of God” (1 Samuel 15:20). Saul hoped to please God and Samuel. But this proved to be his undoing.
Sadly, many continue in the same error, hoping to impress God with some religious sacrifices. They are willing to give fat tithes and offerings, donations and gifts to religious leaders and their churches, while living in secret or open sin. But God’s word remains clear: “…obedience is better than sacrifice”!
Every sincere believer, therefore, needs to imbibe “the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia… (who)…first gave their own selves to the Lord” before making material offerings (2 Corinthians 8:1,5). Until this highest level of obedience to God is demonstrated, nothing can atone for it.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
God is able
God always help the needs
He will always be God
Thanks for great opportunity to read the message im really blessed with this massages God bless you richly Amen
Obedience is better than sacrifice!
I want to be receiving the daily devotional words.
I am highly impressed, l pray may God help you.
Thanks and share more