Rebellion & Arrogance

These two words often accompany one another. These are two words that I don’t want to ever be compared to in the Presence of God. In following the Lord it is not a diplomatic pursuit. The Lord wants to be number 1 in every area of my life. He doesn’t want to be second. I’ve heard it said, “The Lord must be Lord OF all or He’s not Lord AT all.”

King Saul was given some very specific instructions from the Lord about total destruction of the Amalekite nation. The Lord wanted them and everything connected with them wiped off the face of the earth. King Saul decided to do things his own way and he saved the best cattle and sheep as well as King Agag. Samuel confronts Saul and tells him that the Lord has rejected him as king because of his willful disobedience. Check this out…

22 But Samuel replied:

‘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.

23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,

    and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.

Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,

    he has rejected you as king.’ (1 Samuel 15:22-23 NIV)

These words of Samuel have echoed in my head for years. I sometimes want to negotiate with the Lord when He’s called me to do something or become something. I’m reminded that He is Lord of All and my role in this relationship is one of submission and obedience.

In this passage Samuel compares disobedience to divination and idolatry. These are two significant areas that will lead me away from the heart of God consistently. I needed to be reminded that while I don’t worship little carvings made of wood or precious metal, I can be found worshipping my family, my job, my popularity and my own self to name just a few. The Lord doesn’t want my money, my volunteering or my talent without first having my heart of obedience.

My obedience to the Lord is paramount over everything else and everyone one else. For a follower of God, it is not and option or choice – it is a command. As I walk through the Word of God, I can hear the prompting of God to speak and to act. As I listen to His heart, He speaks into my heart. My pursuit of God’s heart is absolutely dependent upon my obedience.  If my heart is His, I can display confidence in Him but not in me.

If the Lord has my heart, He has my trust.

If the Lord has my heart, He has my obedience.

If the Lord has my heart, He has my money.

If the Lord has my heart, He has my family.

If the Lord has my heart, He has my job.

If the Lord has my heart, He has all of me.

Pressing On!

Dwayne