Thursday, August 2, 2007

Sacrifice vs Obedience


Throughout our Wednesday night meetings our pastor has mentioned Watchman Nee and some of the things he said in his books. I really must read some of his writings. Last night he mentioned these quotes and there is much to mull over in Nee's words. They come from his book Spiritual Authority. If you're anything like me, you may need to read and reread and think about them before you decide you understand what he's saying.


"Faith is the principle by which we obtain life, so obedience is the principle by which that life is lived out."


"Man's actions should not be motivated by the knowledge of good and evil; it should be motivated by a sense of obedience."


1 Samuel 15:22 But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Obedience is far better than sacrifice. Listening to him is much better than offering the fat of rams." (The New Living Translation)


Read 1 Samuel 15 and you'll see that Saul disobeyed what God told him to do through Samuel.

When confronted, Saul insisted he obeyed. I've always found it interesting that Saul told Samuel he saved the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord YOUR God (to Samuel's God). He didn't say the Lord or my Lord but your Lord. That was when Samuel told him that obedience is far better than sacrifice.


How many times do I try to do something for the Lord (sacrifice) instead of simply listening to Him and obeying His voice? Maybe I should take Psalm 46:10 to heart, "Be still and know that I am God...."

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