‘To obey is better than sacrifice and to heed than the fat of rams.’ 1 Samuel 15:22
.’Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.’ 1 John 5:3
We are probably more willing to praise and thank God than obey Him. Singing praises to Him and shouting ‘Hallelujah’ is easier than doing what He wants us to do. Every time we read the Bible we are challenged. As we hear the Holy Spirit there is an instruction for us to follow, an action that needs to be done. Our excuses are endless, ‘We’re too busy,’ ‘we don’t have the ability,’ ‘someone else is more capable than us.’ Or probably the best excuse, ‘I think I misunderstood You, Lord. You can’t possibly mean me.’
A good Biblical example of this is found in Jonah. The message seems pretty clear and unambiguous, ‘Go to the great city of Ninevah and preach against it’. Jonah 1:1. For Jonah fleeing to Tarshish was better than obedience. We can never flee from God . Jonah should have read Psalm 139. ‘Where can I go from Your spirit?’ verse 1. ‘If I go to the heavens, You are there.’ verse 8. ‘If I rise on the wings of the dawn ……….. even there Your hand will guide me.’ verses 9 & 10
Disobedience will not place us in a whale’s belly but it will rid us of our peace, it will limit the work of God.