1 Samuel 15:22
But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”
In this passage, the prophet Samuel is rebuking King Saul. He had disobeyed a direct command of God for “religious” reasons. Saul said that he was going to give God a sacrifice instead. In his rebuke, Samuel gives us a principle that we would do well to remember.
Obedience to God is always better than any sacrifice we can make. It doesn’t matter whether you’re putting money in an offering plate or offering up a “sacrifice of praise.” Obedience trumps sacrifice every time.
The reason is that sacrifice can be manipulated. It can be motivated by self-will or arrogance. Obedience, on the other hand, honors God by putting Him directly in the center of what we’re doing. Usually, total obedience to God can only be accomplished through the work of the Holy Spirit in us. Not only is God the focus, but He is also the One who strengthens us.
A good example of this is Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. As He cried out to God He said, “If it is Your will, take this cup [dying on the cross] from me.” Then He told the Father that it was not His own will that was important, but the Father’s. The Lord’s prayer that day was in accordance with the principle of Samuel. What Jesus wanted didn’t matter – it was the Father’s will that was supreme.
Our “cup” and God’s will are two totally different things until we allow the Lord to merge them. Our highest goal should be to know God’s will and obey it. More than any other part of our lives, this is our highest call.
Tags: arrogance, Bible, calling, Christ, Christian, devotion, disciple, encouragement, Garden of Gethsemane, God's will, highest call, honor God, obedience, offering, praise, prayer, prepare, sacrifice, self-will
What is God’s greatest call on your life? What does He want you to do more than anything else?
Micah 6:8
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
This is probably one of the most important concepts for any Christian to understand. It is God’s greatest desire for His people. It’s for them to come into relationship with Him. It’s not just about going to Him when we need help, but to simply spend time with Him – to walk with the Lord.
If you read the beginning of Genesis you will find that God walked regularly with Adam before the fall. Great men of faith, like Enoch, Abraham, and Moses walked with God. That’s His desire for us as well.
Walking with someone assumes certain things. It means that you have agreed to go in the same direction. You’re also going the same speed. In order for this to happen in the spiritual, we need to spend time with the Lord to get to know His heart. What direction is He going, and how quickly?
There is another key word in this verse – humbly. I am not the one setting the pace for this walk. I must yield my will to His. It’s unfortunate that so much of our time in prayer is spent trying to get God to walk in our direction and at our speed. No wonder there are so many frustrated Christians. We must learn that it’s God’s plan that’s important. I must pick up His plan if I want to succeed in this life.
Take the time today to humble yourself before God. Lay your plans at His feet. Let the Lord know that you’re willing to let Him set the pace for your life. Then you can go forward in the security that your destination is the one that God has planned out for you.
Tags: Abraham, Adam, Bible, Christ, Christian, destiny, devotion, direction, disciple, encouragement, Enoch, faith, fellowship, Genesis, God's will, humble, intimacy, Jesus Christ, Moses, overcoming, path, presence of the lord, relationship, speed, time with God, walk with God
1 Timothy 4:8
For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
Physical training and exercise is good. We need to be in shape if we want to do our best work for God. I firmly believe that God wants us to take proper care of our physical bodies.
That, however, is only part of the story. We also are to be in shape spiritually. Our inner being requires just as much care and attention as the outer. Unfortunately, most Christians ignore this fact to their own detriment. Of the two of these goals, I believe that keeping our spiritual life in shape is the tougher assignment.
One of the reasons I enjoy hiking so much is that wilderness training can meet both needs – physical and spiritual. On the one hand, I have lost thirty pounds since I started hiking and I can now run up a flight of stairs without breathing heavy. On the other side of the coin, through my time spent with the Lord in the woods I have developed a new depth of insight into the Word of God. In the wilderness, prayer and meditation can be accomplished for hours at a time with little or no interruptions. At the same time you are increasing your physical endurance.
However you choose to work out your spiritual training, this is a good day to deepen your walk with the Lord. Seek Him as you walk before God this day.
Tags: Bible, Christian, devotion, disciple, encouragement, godliness, hiking, Holy Spirit, in shape, meditation, overcoming, physical training, prayer, prepare, presence of the lord, spiritual, spiritual life, strength, victory
Luke 4:42-44
At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
Very frequently Jesus went off alone into the wilderness. Usually He would go to pray and to meditate on the Word while seeking the Father’s will for the days ahead. Many times He wouldn’t even tell His disciples where He was going. This caused the people and His disciples to become annoyed on more than one occasion.
Most people don’t understand the power of solitude. When you are alone you can see the way ahead more clearly. Walking in the Spirit is a lot more efficient than the trial and error method most Christians use. “I’ll try going forward, if the door closes I’ll try another direction.” You usually only end up with a sore nose.
When you spend quality time with the Lord seeking His will for your life, you don’t have to waste your time on all these dead end paths that lead nowhere. Jesus knew where He was going before He was surrounded by the crowds of people. They couldn’t sway Him from His path by their persuasive arguments. It is that level of guidance you should be seeking from God.
Open your heart up to the Lord in solitary, quiet places. Let Him show you His plan for your life. Then you can walk in confidence before Him.
Tags: Bible, Christian, devotion, encouragement, God's will, Holy Spirit, intimacy, Jesus Christ, meditation, prayer, prepare, presence of the lord, solitary place, solitude, trial and error, walking in the spirit
There is nothing worse than being lost. Confusion, fear and depression can take over. If you are not careful you can end up simply going in circles.
Life is the same way. There are thousands of conflicting paths that all intersect at our feet each morning. Without a guide we’re lost. How can we make sense of it all? Which path will bring us to the place we want to be?
Psalm 25:4-5
Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
The Holy Spirit wants to lead us though the tangled network of choices that lay before us. Only He knows the outcome of each path, whether taken or not. He has the wisdom to bring us victoriously into the destiny God has prepared for each of us personally.
There is no better place to start hearing the voice of the Lord than in a quiet place of prayer each morning. Here you can be free of the distractions that are constantly begging for your attention. Use your time in the Lord’s presence to strengthen your relationship with Him. I know that you will find that it is time well spent, as your path grows clearer before you.
Tags: Bible, Christian, destiny, devotion, disciple, distractions, encouragement, God's leading, God's will, God's wisdom, guidance, Holy Spirit, leading, lost, path, prayer, prepare, presence of the lord, victory, wisdom
Psalm 72:3
The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness.
I have always thought this was an interesting verse. It tells us that the mountains will bring God’s people prosperity, the fruit of righteousness.
How can a mountain “bring” anything? It can’t unless we do something first. If it is to be an abundant harvest of crops, then the mountainside or hillside must be cultivated, planted, and harvested. If it is to be a spiritual harvest, then we must climb the mountain by prayer and intimacy with the Lord. Either way it will require an effort on our part.
The mountain cannot do it alone. We are expected to initiate the blessing. People talk about “mountaintop experiences”, but I don’t think they fully understand them. They think it’s just a happy time in their life. That’s not quite it. A spiritual mountaintop is a place of clarity in your walk with God. It is a time when you see that way ahead and have a renewed vision for your destiny. This is the basis of true prosperity.
Seek out these mountaintop times with the Lord. Find a quiet time and place to prepare your soul to hear from the Lord. You can be changed in His life-giving presence. You can receive a new abundance in your life that you have never known before.
Spend time with the Lord today. Have a “mountaintop” experience. Come down from that place refreshed and renewed in your inner man.
Tags: Bible, calling, Christian, clarity, devotion, distractions, encouragement, glory, God's will, harvest, higher, Holy Spirit, intimacy, intimacy with God, mountain, mountaintop, power, prayer, prepare, presence of the lord, prosperity, revival, spiritual mountain, victory, vision
Psalm 65:9-12
You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it. You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops. You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the desert overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness.
Most people don’t like dark, rainy days. Too many of them in a row tends to bring on depression. In the same way we don’t like trouble and testing. We even call days of trial “dark days.”
No one is exempt from testing, however. We must all face our own particular trials. But remember, as we face resistance, we gain strength.
If I want to have a beautiful lawn or garden, then it must be watered. Rain is a part of the cycle of life. We may not like it, but we need it to survive. There are many drought ravaged parts of the world that would do anything for a rainy weather pattern.
It is the same with our inner life. The only way to strengthen our faith is through difficulties. There is no other course. Testing is the spiritual rain that waters the seed we have planted in our hearts.
The end result of all this is abundance – abundant faith, abundant strength, and abundant victory. Nobody likes problems, but if we face them without complaining and with the realization that they will strengthen us, it will help keep our focus on the Lord and our joy intact.
Tags: abundance, abundant life, Bible, calling, Christian, devotion, encouragement, faith, God's will, Holy Spirit, joy, problems, rain, rainy days, resistance, spirituality, strength, test, testing, trouble, victory
Mark 16:12-13
Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.
After His resurrection, Jesus appears to His disciples at various times and in different ways. In this verse He shows up as a man walking in the country. He wanted to meet with these disciples in a quiet, unhurried setting.
Please realize that as you go through your daily routine, Christ can appear at any time. By His Spirit He speaks, guides, clarifies and corrects. You need to be expecting to hear from Him.
When the disciples returned from their trip, no one believed that they had seen Christ. Even today it is hard for some to think that you can meet with with Christ during the hustle and bustle of everyday life. They think you have to be in a church or in your “prayer closet” for the Holy Spirit to speak to you. The simple fact is, the Lord will show up anyplace there is a listening heart.
Listen for His voice today. We know that He will be found by those who earnestly seek Him. Do what it takes to quiet yourself before Him. That is how you prepare yourself to hear from the Lord.
Spend time in His presence as you walk out your day. Let Him guide you by His hand. Keep your spiritual ears open to His Word for you.
Tags: Bible, calling, Christ, Christian, church, daily routine, devotion, encouragement, fellowship, God's will, Holy Spirit, holy worship, intimacy, Jesus Christ, listening heart, prayer closet, prepare, presence of the lord, resurrection
What is your view of God?
Isaiah 6:1
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.
Isaiah is an interesting Old Covenant prophet. He lived during uncertain times. In this passage he tells of a life-transforming vision he had of the Lord. It causes me to take a step back and ask myself how I view and serve God.
Probably the most important point is when this encounter took place. Isaiah said that it happened in the year king Uzziah died. Uzziah was a great king. He served God with all his heart. He renewed the temple worship of Judah. Because of his devotion to God, he was victorious in his battles against the enemies of Israel. The borders were secure and their cities and towns were returning to their former glory. It was a wonderful time.
Then one day, because of pride, Uzziah tried to worship God in a way that was only reserved for the priesthood. At that point he was struck with leprosy until the day of his death. Now the future of Israel was in the balance.
This was a turning point in their history. The people were slipping back into complacency. Their devotion to God was waning. It’s in this climate that Isaiah saw this vision. He got a glimpse of the majesty of the Lord – enthroned in the heavenlies.
We live in uncertain times. The economy, politics, weather, and a host of other issues scream for our attention. What is your stability in all of this. We need the same vision as Isaiah.
GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE!!!
Don’t let the events around you, rob you of your peace and joy. We are the children of God. Nothing is beyond His knowledge or ability. As a matter of fact, He knows what is going to happen before it does. Nothing takes Him by surprise.
See the Lord on the throne today. Lay your burdens and cares at His feet. Trust Him to guide you through these days in victory and joy. Then we can truly be people of vision.
Tags: Bible, burdens, cares, Christian, devotion, encouragement, faith, glory, Isaiah, joy, majesty, peace, praise, prayer, prepare, presence of the lord, prophet, uncertainty, Uzziah, victory, view of God, vision
Proverbs 12:1
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
Discipline is one of those words that we don’t want to hear about too often. It brings up all kinds bad memories. But, like it or not, we all need discipline. In this verse, Solomon tells us that discipline and knowledge go hand in hand. Unfortunately it is something that this society seems to know very little about.
There is an attitude that says that I deserve to have what I want right now – no matter what. In many cases people will have their own way no matter what it does to their future. So often we are more than willing to place our future earnings, our relationships, and our health all on the altar of instant, momentary pleasure. Only discipline can keep our destiny safe.
The fact is that knowledge, without discipline, is almost worthless. Discipline is the ability to restrain my actions now and do what I need to do, so that I can have a greater enjoyment in the future. This goes against the “feel good now” attitude of our generation. Too often we are willing to sell our future for gratification in the present. That’s what Solomon is speaking to here.
Correction is when you are willing to listen to critical advice from someone who has been there. The word translated stupid in this version, simply means that they are destroying themselves. If you are not willing to take correction, and show the discipline it takes to change your direction, then you will slowly lose your future benefits.
How many times do we look back and say, “I wish I’d have done that differently.” The time is now to heed the voice of godly correction and allow discipline to shape your future. Don’t lose out on the destiny that God wants you to have. Don’t trade your future blessings for the instant gratification. Let discipline, knowledge, and correction bring you to a life worth living in Christ.
Tags: Bible, Christian, correction, cross, destiny, devotion, discipline, encouragement, future, God's will, Holy Spirit, instant gratification, knowledge, momentary pleasure, now, prepare, protection, self discipline
The Spirit and the Word 