Corona Devo 622

Is it disobedient to God if we alter His commands just a little in order to serve ourselves?  (Who will ever know, and what's the worst that can happen?)

How about if we are mostly doing what He says?  Isn't that good enough? 

Today's Scripture provides a bold reminder that God actually does mean what He says...every word.  And when we alter His commands or ignore them, there will be a consequence.  And the question we ask should not be, "What's the worst that can happen?", but rather "What 'best' did we forfeit because we chose our path instead of the Lord's?"

Missing out on God's best plan for our lives--that is the worst that can happen. 

It had been over 400 years, but God remembered that the Amalekites had not allowed the Israelites (His people) to pass through Amalekite territory on their way to the Promised Land, and so He said to Saul, "I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt. (3) Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.” ~I Samuel 12:2-3

But Saul didn't want to go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation, because he found some good stuff there. 

So, he kept it, and He disobeyed God, Who told him to clear out the city, but Saul and his men spared Agag (the king)...and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality (I Samuel 12:9).

But, remember what God said?  (Not "why" He said it, or if it was "fair" that He said it: but what did God tell Saul to do? 

"Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation...” ~I Samuel 12:3

But Saul chose not to obey fully.  He lived for himself, and satisfied his own desires instead of God's. And his unfaithful behavior grieved God. 

Then the Lord said to Samuel, (11) “I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.”

(13) When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully. “May the Lord bless you,” he said. “I have carried out the Lord’s command!”

(14) “Then what is all the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?” Samuel demanded.

(15) “It’s true that the army spared the best of the sheep, goats, and cattle,” Saul admitted. “But they are going to sacrifice them to the Lord your God. We have destroyed everything else.”

(19) Why haven’t you obeyed the Lord? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the Lord’s sight?”

(20) “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else. (21) Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”

(22) But Samuel replied, “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.

(23) Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.  So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”  ~I Samuel 15:10-11, 13-15, 19-23

It's all there. Saul's disobedience (lack of complete obedience), his lack-of-ownership or remorse, and even Saul's justification of his actions (...brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the Lord ~I Samuel 15:21).

But our full obedience is the only sacrifice God wants. (Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. ~I Samuel 15:22).

And it cost Saul his kingdom. God cannot "work" with us if we will not submit to His lead over our lives.

You and I have an advantage over Saul: we have the Holy Spirit whispering to our hearts, and we have the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross to mediate for our prideful sins. Thank goodness. This is salvation, if we will accept it. And if we do, nothing will ever "cost us the kingdom", because the Lord has reserved a spot for us. (In My Father’s house are many rooms.  If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ~John 14:2).

But that doesn't mean that we don't alter God's commands sometimes just a little in order to serve ourselves, or that we don't convince ourselves that we are "doing His will", because we are mostly doing what He says, instead of all of what He says. 

Today--be honest about God's Word and His holiness. What did God say about whatever issue we are pandering to right now?

May we search ourselves. Is God hearing the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle (I Samuel 15:14) somewhere in our lives? Are we obeying Him mostly? Have we altered His plan just a little to meet our needs?

We can't keep those sheep, goats, and cattle. Not if we want God's best plan for our lives. And we do.

What's the worst that can happen? Missing out on God's best for our lives.

Today may we be fully/wholly/completely obedient to his voice, which is more pleasing to the Lord that burnt offerings and sacrifices. (I Samuel 15:22).

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com