As I sit to write, I contemplate on something that has been on my mind all day. Sometimes doing what God calls us to do is difficult and if you're like me, you'll put it off as long as you can.
I so want to honor God and do His will but it always seems that I overthink it, make excuses, or delay the action. You see, I believe God has been calling me to do something for a while. Unfortunately, I have put everything I have into "doing".
I have said "look at me, I'm working, does that count?" I come up with things like "I'm faithful in thithing, I teach Bible Study, and I participate in 'events'" Who am I kidding? None of those compare to obedience.
In Genesis 12, God told Abraham "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you." He did not give Abraham an option, He did not give him an "out" He simply said "leave it" and go.
In another case in the New Testament, Jesus made a call to follow Him. A disciple said to Him, "Lord, first let me go and bother my father." But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
As much as I want to say "but everything I'm doing requires sacrifice" and that's as good as obedience isn't it? No! It isn't. Recently I have found myself wanting to bargain and I have to tell you, God is not in the business of bargaining.
In the Old Testament Saul chose not to obey God. He did things his way and grieved the Lord. As difficult as it is to follow through with obedience, I would never want to hear God say "I am grieved that I have made [Saul] king because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instruction."
That could say "Dee" or anyone else. My prayer is that I will not grieve my Lord in that manner and that He will give me the strength to follow through with obedience rather than bargain with sacrifice.
Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is bette than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22
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