Saul

The life of Saul, Israel’s first king, illustrates the danger of partial obedience. His story is not about the sheep he kept but about the heart that stopped listening. It reveals the subtle rebellion of doing most of what God asks while leaving out the rest, and it challenges believers today to examine whether they are truly hearing and doing what God says.

The Subtle Drift of Partial Obedience

When Saul returned from victory over the Amalekites, he was cheerful. He greeted Samuel with confidence: “I have carried out the Lord’s command!” Yet Samuel immediately heard the sound of bleating sheep and lowing cattle. Saul had obeyed almost everything—but not all.

His reasoning seemed noble. He claimed the best of the animals were spared for sacrifice. But Samuel interrupted him with a sharp reminder: “Obedience is better than sacrifice.” The problem was not livestock; it was Saul’s willingness to alter God’s word to fit his own desires.

Partial obedience is disobedience. It may appear small, but in God’s eyes it is rebellion. Samuel declared that rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft and stubbornness as idolatry. What Saul treated as a minor adjustment was, in reality, a rejection of God’s command.

Modern Forms of 90%

This story raises uncomfortable questions. How often do people today live at 90% obedience—convincing themselves they are faithful, while quietly setting aside the parts of God’s word that are inconvenient?

It rarely looks like overt rebellion. More often, it is distraction, busyness, or selective listening. God speaks, but the response is delayed, watered down, or altered. The Hebrew word shema—to hear and to do—leaves no room for halfway obedience. To hear without doing is to refuse.

The Call to Active Listening

Jesus often repeated the phrase, “Whoever has ears, let them hear.” Every person has ears; the question is whether they are listening with intent to obey. Active listening is not about passively absorbing words but about readiness to respond.

This call remains urgent. God is speaking—in the quiet moments of prayer, in the prompting of the Spirit, in the opportunities to serve others. Yet so often lives are cluttered, schedules overloaded, and voices competing for attention. Distraction becomes disobedience when it prevents a full response to God’s call.

Stories of Obedience and Distraction

The consequences of listening or ignoring are real. When believers open their homes, share their resources, or speak life into others as God directs, lives are transformed. Simple acts of obedience—welcoming the lonely, giving generously, asking a question at just the right moment—become divine appointments.

But when attention is fixed on lesser things, opportunities are missed. Grass, schedules, or comfort can become more important than the people God wants to reach. The kingdom advances when His people hear and do, but it stalls when they remain at 90%.

Revival as a New Beginning of Obedience

Revival is not only about large gatherings or dramatic events. At its heart, revival is a return to obedience—a new beginning of hearing and doing what God says. When believers live with ears open and hearts ready, ordinary moments become extraordinary.

The voice that spoke the universe into being is still speaking today. The same God who called Samuel by name as a child is calling each of His people to respond. His desire is not for sacrifice without obedience, but for hearts fully surrendered to His word.

A Liberating Adventure

Obedience is not a burden. It is the doorway to life and freedom. The best, most memorable moments of faith come from listening to God and acting on what He says. Times of distraction fade into obscurity, but the moments of obedience are remembered forever.

Samuel’s life reminds us that listening leads to action. Saul’s life warns us that partial obedience is rebellion. Together, their stories challenge every believer to choose full obedience—to hear and do what God says, not stopping at 90%, but trusting Him completely.