An Acceptable Obedience
Welcome to Joni and Friends; hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada.
Elisabeth Elliott tells the story of a little girl who, instead of doing her household chores, decided that she should spend that hour practicing on the piano. She sat on the bench, proudly plunking away on the keys, “Yes, Jesus Loves Me.” Her mother called from the other room, reminding her daughter of her duties; but the girl continued to happily fill the house with the melody of praise. Now here’s the question: Was this child’s playing rewarded? Did her mother commend her? Was her mother pleased? Not at all. Because songs of praise lose their meaning when offered out of disobedience.
And we are not unlike that child at the piano. We are in fact like Saul who, after a big battle, disobeyed God by keeping the best of the Amalekites oxen and sheep to enhance his sacrifices to the Lord. And just like King Saul, we try to justify our disobedience with a show of religion. But you know what God says about that: the prophet told Saul in 1 Samuel 15, he said: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” It’s a lesson that child at the piano should have heeded: God says that to obey is better than to sacrifice; that is, first, do what God tells you to do before you give something you are convinced will please him. ’Cause God finds no pleasure in any gift when it’s offered from a heart that clings to willful sins – especially sin that we try to justify. And we are so good, we’re so devious at doing that. We’re so clever when it comes to justifying ourselves: We remain in an evil trade, thinking that then, we can earn more to give to the Lord. We hold on to a small but corrupt habit with the excuse that we balance it out with faithful attendance at prayer meeting and choir rehearsal. We remain in a questionable relationship, insisting that it energizes our spiritual walk with Christ. But it’s all ram fat. Now, here is the interesting thing about King Saul and his disobedience
The truth is, the sheep and the cattle from the Amalekites really were a better breed. Those animals would have made for a so-called “better” sacrifice. Back then, the fat of a healthy ram sacrificed on the altar? Woo! That was a worthy sacrifice! For that matter, at any other time, the little girl’s piano rendition of “Jesus Loves Me” would have been sweet music to her mother’s ears. In the same way, giving more to the Lord is a wonderful thing and faithful attendance at prayer meeting is to be admired – but all of it is ram fat when offered through disobedience.
So, listen to the prophet Samuel’s word to you today: To heed God is better than the fat of rams. Or in other words, to obey is far better than anything else you might bring to the Lord. Be quiet for a moment and let the Spirit scrutinize your offerings as of late to Jesus. Think about your relationships; are they pure? Is there something you’d be ashamed of if it were found out, yet you try to quiet your guilt by filling your house with worship music? What is the Holy Spirit whispering to you right now? Is there any ram fat that you are trying to present to God?
Obedience is much more of a holy thing to offer God than anything else, no matter how pleasing it seems. Help us all, Jesus – help me included – to remember this.
© Joni and Friends
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