95 - "Better to Obey Than Sacrifice" 1 Samuel 15-16

Am I more concerned about obeying the God who rules over me
than I am about giving up my time for Christian services and ceremonies?
It is far better to obey than sacrifice. I Samuel 15:22

It is far easier to bring a sacrifice than to bring our lofty thoughts and prideful motivations and selfish ambitions into obedience before God. We are not competing with the High King. We have to let go of what controls us---it's idolatrrous. You've rejected the Word of the Lord and made nothing of it. You've brushed off the government of the Word, of your God. God made Saul the king. God can undo what He did. 

I Samuel 16:7 - God looks at your heart from the very beginning of your days.  The world looks for our majesty in appearance and ambitions.  God sees right through us and all our ways...and loves us so, as is. God looks at the heart; not at the outward appearance. David was a prince in his own right.  Yet, when God looked at the 7 brothers, he saw David's heart, even as a very young man.  In this world, it is all about the majesty of the person---their looks, their contributions, their success.  Even as a young boy, David treasured the Word of God, Psalm 119:97.  This was what he meditated on and lived out.  At first many didn't notice.  God never missed a frame.  So, whether we appear great or small in the eyes of this world, what matters most is how God sees our soul.  What about this heart of mine?  Doesn't matter who passes me by.  Only matters by the One Who passes me by every single day and fills this broken heart with Himself. 

Do I hear the bleating of sheep in my life?  That's what Samuel said to Saul---what's this I am hearing? The mooing of cattle, the bleating of sheep. I Sam 15:14. Saul offers the sheep to God instead of doing what God told him to do. 

PHOTO:  The uncomely pastures of Kansas.  Nothing spectacular here.  But something about standing in this pastoral place.