Obedience is better than sacrifice – Part 1

Samuel said, “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22

God is clearly saying that He is looking for obedience and not the sacrifices. We want to offer God the sacrifices, rather than obey God. We want to do things by our will power and remove many things from our life which we know that God doesn't like. We with our efforts try to pray and read the bible. We with our efforts try to please God by sacrificing the things we like and do what God likes. Sometimes after doing such things we become bitter because we don't see the expected outcome.

We read the bible and pray to see changes in us. When we do it and don't see the changes coming in us we get frustrated and start questioning God and stop doing it. This happens when we have done things by our will power, by our own strength. When you begin with your own strength we have to continue and finish also with our own strength. But if God begins something, then you have to relax and not struggle because God will not leave you till He completes His good work in you.

Does that mean you don't have to do read the bible and pray? If you are not asking the help of the Holy Spirit and doing it by your own strength it will not yield result. God has clearly said, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, I will do it.” When you do things by taking the help of the Holy Spirit, there are always results. Then sacrifice that comes will not make your bitter but better.

Many look at giving up many things only to please God, later on you regret or grumble about it. Many tell God, “I did this for you, I left that for you, but you have done nothing for me.” God is not asking for those sacrifices. Sacrifice is an outcome of obedience. Sacrifice is a result of obedience. If you are looking at change the result without following the right procedure, it is called as manipulation. We don't like manipulated results, then how do we expect God to like it.

– Jimsen & Sneha