This morning, I was reading in I Samuel 15. King Saul had disobeyed the command the Lord gave him. When Samuel confronted him, Saul said “the men” wanted to keep those animals to offer as sacrifice to the Lord. It’s amazing how he made justification for disobedience.
“…Then Samuel received this message from the Lord: 11 “Saul has stopped following me, so I am sorry that I made him king. He is not doing what I tell him.”…22 But Samuel answered (Saul), “Which pleases the Lord more: burnt offerings and sacrifices or obeying his commands? It is better to obey the Lord than to offer sacrifices to him. It is better to listen to him than to offer the fat from rams. ” I Samuel 15:10-22 ERV
To obey is better than sacrifice. What God desires is a heart that pleases Him, a heart that wants to follow His instruction. He’s not looking for our earthly perfection but for a willingness to obey.
“I try with all my heart to serve you. Help me obey your commands. 11 I study your teachings very carefully so that I will not sin against you. 12 Lord, you are worthy of praise! Teach me your laws.” Psalm 119:10-12 ERV
These are the words of King David. He was the man that replaced Saul as God’s chosen king.
Each morning a part of my daily prayer is “Lord, I want to please You. I want the things I do to honor You and reflect Your word”. And when I fail, I am quick to repent and receive His forgiveness and His strength for the next situation that may arise.
“But if we confess our sins, God will forgive us. We can trust God to do this. He always does what is right. He will make us clean from all the wrong things we have done.” I John 1:9 ERV
Our short comings and failures shouldn’t draw us away from the Father, they should bring us closer to Him. We shouldn’t run and hide as Adam and Eve did in the garden. No, instead we should run to Him and find His help in our time of need. We have this promise.
“ My friends, the blood of Jesus gives us courage to enter the most holy place 20 by a new way that leads to life! And this way takes us through the curtain that is Christ himself.
21 We have a great high priest who is in charge of God’s house. 22 So let’s come near God with pure hearts and a confidence that comes from having faith. Let’s keep our hearts pure, our consciences free from evil, and our bodies washed with clean water. 23 We must hold tightly to the hope we say is ours. After all, we can trust the one who made the agreement with us.” Hebrews 10:19-23 CEV
We can trust the ONE who made this promise to us, the One who gives us a clean heart and a clear conscience because of what Christ did in dying for us.
The following are words to a song we used to sing years ago, “A Perfect Heart” by Reba Rambo and Donnie McGuire.
Bless the Lord
Who reigns in beauty
Bless the Lord
Who reigns with wisdom and with power
Bless the Lord
Who reigns my life with so much love
He can make a perfect heart
Let’s not be like Saul who disobeyed and then tried to justify his actions; rather, let’s be like David who asked the Lord to create in Him a clean heart.