“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
We try to obey God by acting as Christ-like as we dare, by reading our Bible and by controlling ourselves as humanly possible. But, if we are honest, we really are no different than the Children of Israel were with Moses.
Every time I see the movie, The Ten Commandments, I think to myself, Pharaoh was a fool! If I were king, I would have listened! Then I think about the Children of Israel, and think to myself, they just did not get it; didn't they remember the plagues, the promises, or the parting of the Red Sea? How could they forget the manna and hordes of quail falling from the sky? It was as if the memories of their victories were erased. Somehow, they forgot all those times when God miraculously brought them through their trials and tribulations.
Then I think about all the many predicaments God has brought me through. My own personal parting of the Red Sea, where He made “a way, out of no way;” and, where obeying would have played a major factor, had I done so. For most of us, obedience has a cost. Sometimes it cost love, sometimes instant gratification, sometimes friends.
When we see depictions of Satan, the master of Sin, he is grotesque with horns; however, we know this image is not biblical. The truth is, Sin on the facade is alluring, sexy, enticing, and many times can appear beautiful, at least at the onset. However, we know that no matter how good it can be in the beginning, the consequences will have a lingering effect on our lives. Whatever the cost, obedience to God will eventually bring you ultimate joy! -Yes, it sounds like a cliché; but, it is true nonetheless. L.
Study Reference: 1 Samuel 15:22, Ezekiel 28:13-15
From: "The "O" Word." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: shutterstock
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