1 Samuel 15: 22-23 “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. 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.”
The Lenten season is a time of self-reflection and allowing God to cleanse us and set ourselves right with Him. It begins with honest self-evaluation. Sometimes that self-evaluation can come in the form of someone holding us accountable for our actions.
Saul was busy being King of Israel and had become pretty full of himself. He began to think he was above the law of God. He took on some of the priestly functions and Samuel appears to bring the Word of the Lord to him.
Samuel utters a phrase that rings true to us today-“To obey is better than sacrifice”. Obedience to God is more important than any of our religious rituals.
Today we are preparing for another weekend without church gathering in one place. But when we examine our lives and commit to obey God, He takes our obedience and our faith and covers them with His grace. Maybe being together is not nearly as important as being together with Him
Reflection: How accountable are you to God and the people around you?
Reading: 1 Samuel 15: 22-30
Submitted by: Rev. Jim Johnson
New Life International UMC
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