RTW April 13

The Better Way

But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord…”
1 Samuel 15:22a

 

 

My Takeaways

Something Old

Nothing is better than obedience.

Obedience is

  • better than sacrifice.
  • better than my own thinking.
  • better than my own rightness and recognition.

Most often we are the biggest obstacle to our own obedience.

Something New

God removed His covering from Saul. Those who believe in Jesus never have to fear this! Yeah!

Something to Do

Obedience will cost us, but the rewards are far better than what we gave up.

 

 

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3 Comments

  1. I wanted to add to Wendy’s video. I do believe that yes obedience is extremely important, but not without relationship. I believe that a relationship with Jesus is the foundation for obedience.

    Jesus is not glorified by the keeping of his instructions/commands by those who don’t love him, love comes first – loving and worshiping him is most important to God. “If you love me keep my commandments.” JOHN 14:15

    If we don’t love him, truly, with our whole heart, mind, and strength He’s not interested in us obeying Him (Matthew 22:37-39). If I truly do love Him, I will want to obey Him and yet Jesus doesn’t want us to think we are impressing Him by outward obedience only. In the divine economy, it all begins with LOVE – “God so LOVED the world that He gave his only son….” (John 3:16) The Bible says that “The Lord looks at the heart” and if He sees that I don’t truly love Him, He’s not interested in my vain outward show (1 Samuel 16:7).

    “If you love me keep my commandments” and not “prove you love me by keeping my commandments” (John 14:15) … there is a big difference. Jesus isn’t interested in any law keeper keeping His commandments. He desires and calls His people to love Him. If not, there’s no reason to try to obey Him.

    1. It is so important to keep our relationship with God and our obedience to Him in the proper order as you have said. Otherwise we can fall into a “works” mentality. We obey because we love God and want to please Him and know that what He has instructed us to do is ultimately for our good.

  2. There was much in today’s reading that stood out to me, but I have narrowed down my takeaway to a few things.
    —Where am I not obeying completely or justifying actions of partial obedience?
    —Obedience, full obedience, is important to God.
    —Confession, repentance, and forgiveness do not necessarily remove the consequences of sin.
    —Guard against judging people by their outward appearance rather than their heart. It can be so easy for me to fall into this.
    —I was impressed by the heart of Samuel in today’s reading.

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