Perceived Obedience

Sometimes we trick ourselves into thinking that we’re doing right when we’re not. Perhaps it’s a case of the ends justifying the means. Or perhaps in a proud declaration, we truly think “we know better” in this particular case. In the end, we’re simply justifying our sin, whether consciously or subconsciously.
Take Saul for example. All he wanted to do was bring back a little of the booty after routing the Amalekites (Read about it in 1 Samuel 15:1-9). Specifically he wanted to bring back animals that he could sacrifice to God. I mean, all the guy wants to do is worship. What’s so bad about that? The problem, simply stated, was that God told him to do something else. God’s command was not to spare anything (v. 3). Nothing! Yet Saul decided he knew better than God. Not only that, but he allowed Agag, the Amalekite king, to live.
Samuel got to the heart of the matter when he rebuked Saul, saying in v.22, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.”
God wants us to listen and obey, not do our own thing. As our loving creator, he has our best in mind. Are there any “Agag’s” in your life? Straggling sins that you’ve rationalized for one reason or another? Take a page out of Samuel’s playbook (Check out v. 32-33!) and remove them from your midst.