1 Samuel 15:22 NLT
But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.
Beloved,
In this series, we are talking about the very thing which every Christian must pray for according to scripture: God’s kingdom established here on the earth. Last time, we established that as we are awaiting His Lordship over all the earth, we should ensure that His Lordship is established in our own lives. How do we go about this? After we have made the decision to accept and declare Jesus Christ, the resurrected, reigning King and Son of God both Savior and Lord of our lives, we must make the decision to abide in His presence, so that we might hear Him and heed His instruction.
If we cannot master the art of obedience to the Father, despite the grace and example we have in Christ Jesus and the help and added advantage we have through the gift and leading of the Holy Spirit, then we cannot truly declare Jesus as Lord of our lives, nor can we enjoy all the benefits that comes with God’s kingdom at work in our lives.
What keeps us from total obedience? We mentioned a few examples the last time. In addition to obvious barriers such as pride, greed, and ignorance – all if which were exhibited by King Saul as we discussed yesterday – we can also add fear, having a self-consciousness that outweighs our God-consciousness, and having things in our lives that we exalt above God.
We have the example of Moses. After receiving clear instructions from God, Moses questions Him:
Exodus 3:10-11 NLT
Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”
God was so merciful. Even after Moses questions His instruction, God compassionately demonstrates His power and passionate commitment to sponsoring his journey. Still Moses replies as such:
Exodus 4:1 NLT
But Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?”
And again:
Exodus 4:10 NLT
But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”
Exodus 4:13 NLT
But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.”
Even after God demonstrated His power, Moses allowed feelings of fear and inadequacy to outweigh his faith and trust in God. It took the intervention of Zipporah, Moses’ wife, who, in wisdom, demonstrated her understanding of the power of covenant to keep God from striking Moses dead (Exodus 4:24-26).
Beloved, to obey God is wisdom and it’s worth it. May you enjoy the establishment of God’s kingdom in your life.
I commend you to God and to the word of His grace.
I call you blessed. I call you NATIONS.
