Topic: obedience
Scripture:
“Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.”
— 1 Samuel 15:24 ESV
Observation:
Saul lost favor with the Lord because he feared what people say more than obeying the Lord. The words of the people, their whining, their idea of what is right, or what should be done, swayed Saul’s heart. “Are you sure God said that?” “Are you sure God wants you to do that?” We too find ourselves in this predicament. Who do we listen more to? Are we letting the voice of others be louder in our life than God’s?
Application:
Being a Christian may mean that you may need to do something that may not be popular. We may be questioned and criticized for not doing what everyone else is. It is often because we are distracted by things that keep us from fulfilling the assignments God has given us.
We need to be able to say “no” to the noise. We need to resist the things that take us off of our assignment. Like someone talking to you while you are working on something, we need to learn to turn away from what is drawing our attention away. Then we need turn toward what our assignment is.
Saul listened to people, and one might have to ask, “Who are they listening to?” We also need to check our sources. Is the advice we are getting based on our faith in Christ? Does it line up with the Bible says? We may be tempted to seek out advice but we need to check the source. The advice we take could sabotage the work God has us to do.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, thank you for the lesson about obeying you. Help our ears and hearts resist being swayed by others when it comes to obeying you. Allow our lips to be able to say “no” when we need to. Let our work be focused on obeying your assignments you have given us. Allow our eyes to be fixed on the task before us, and not what others are doing. Thank you for having great works for us to accomplish for you. In your Name, Jesus. Amen!
