DCLM Daily Manna 2024: DCLM Daily Manna 9 October 2024: Obedience, Not Sacrifice
Text: 1 Samuel 15:20-23 (KJV)
20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
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.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
KEY VERSE: 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.”
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.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Prompt obedience to God is the pathway to heaven.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Luke 17-19
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Daily Manna 9 October 2024
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