Better Than Sacrifice, Yielding Our Heart to GodSample

Obedience is better than sacrifice

If we remember that we can’t sacrifice our way into heaven, and that Jesus literally paid it all; the entire price for our sins; then we begin to understand that salvation, even though costing us everything, is absolutely free. God isn’t impressed with our worldly efforts at sacrifice – but He is impressed when we obey Him; when we do everything He tells us to do, and do it cheerfully.

1 Samuel 15:22, ““Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” God loves it when we pay attention to Him and promptly do what He says. There are no shortcuts. Delayed obedience is disobedience; 90% obedience is disobedience.

God said in Jeremiah 7:22-23, “When I brought your ancestors out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you.” God says this because it is for our good, to warn us not to simply default to doing ‘good things’ that we think can gain us points with Him. Our walk in life, if we want it to be blessed by our Father, must be in heartfelt obedience to His will, not ours.

The writer of Hebrews in 10:8-9 said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”, though they were offered in accordance with the law. Then he said, “Here I (Jesus) am, I have come to do your will.” Jesus’ obedience to His Father was the perfect, final sacrifice. By it He set aside the imperfect system of sacrifices carried out by human priests and forever settled the destiny of those who would trust in and obey Him.

Reflection: Are you longing to bring joy to God’s heart by complete and heartfelt obedience?