THE IMPORTANCE OF TOTAL OBEDIENCE
"So Samuel said, “Has 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...." 1 Samuel 15:22(NKJV)
BIBLE READING:
JOHN 14:15; 1JOHN 5:3; 2JOHN 1:6; MATTHEW 22:37; 1JOHN 3:17-18
We have seen and understood from the previous devotional that Agape Love is the First and the Greatest Commandment that the Lord God Almighty gave us as Genuine Christian believers (Jn. 13:34-35). As God Incarnate due to the Virgin Birth, the Lord Jesus Himself came in the Flesh as an Embodiment of that Love which is the Core Essence of the Godhead (1Tim. 3:16) He showed us exactly how to love God and our fellow humans in an acceptable way to Him. We must never forget as Genuine Christian believers that Agape Love, which could be defined as "the sustained direction of the Will for the good of another," is actually an Action-oriented Word. In other words, Love is described rather than defined throughout the Holy Bible. Nevertheless, we do not get to "pick and choose" what Commands of the Lord we will obey for partial Obedience is just as bad as disobedience.
From our Key Scriptural Text, we can hear the Sober Prophetic rebuke. Samuel, the prophet, gave Saul the first king of the Nation of Israel (1Sam. 15). One of the last instructions Moses the Lawgiver issued to the Israelites before his death was the utter annihilation of the Amalekites.(Deut. 25:17-19). Prophet Samuel then instructed King Saul to fulfil that Prophetic Charge by wiping out every inhabitant of Amalek, whether old or young. However, Saul kept the Amalekite king Agag alive and their best livestock. This action brought about not only a scathing rebuke but an utter rejection by God. Such is the danger of partial Obedience, which is often as bad as disobedience itself. Whenever God instructs us in His Word, our duty is to obey Him promptly and totally- which is evidence of our Sincere Love for Him.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, we exalt You always for Your Mercy ⁷and Grace towards us. O Lord, please help us to continue expressing our Love for You through our Total Obedience in Jesus' Mighty Name. Amen.