Obedience and Submission

"Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams." (1 Samuel 15:22 NLT)

Do you obey the law even when the regulations don’t make sense to you? Take, for instance, traffic laws: Do you always come to a full stop at stop signs, even on empty roads? Or do you just slow down, take a quick glance for cop cars, and keep moving? Do you drive at or below the speed limit? Or does your speed depend on the other drivers around you? 

Whether it is traffic laws or authority figures, most of us are reluctant to obey and submit to anything or anyone these days. We would rather make up our own mind on what is appropriate. This attitude often extends to God’s directions as well. When we get a nudge from God to do something that goes against our agenda, what do we do? We question whether the message was from God or something our imagination cooked up. We ignore it, hoping it will fade with time. We delay and prevaricate. 

Disobedience was the original sin that separated humanity from God. Adam and Eve thought they could make up their own minds about what was good and evil. They were wrong. When we trust that God loves us and wants what is best for us, we are able to obey without reservations. A proper reverence for God enables us to surrender. Trust, respect, acceptance of God’s love, reverence, and submission are all pleasing to God. This is why obedience is better than sacrifice.