TOPIC: OBEDIENCE – THE PORTRAIT OF SACRIFICE
Scripture: Genesis 22: 12. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
Beloved, I welcome you to another Moment of Daily Encounter! The matter of sacrifice is at his peak when we obey God. Today, we shall be looking at the subject of obedience as the portrait of sacrifice.
Sacrifice as we have been discussing it is given up on something that cost you! However, the Bible made it clear that the true definition of sacrifice is obedience as exemplified in the life of Abraham.
Abraham was called to offer up Isaac in a certain mountain and he simply obeyed even though he cost him three days journey to the foot of the mountain, he obeyed and then climbed up the mountain as instructed.
Beloved, when God instruct you to give your Isaac, did you obey? God is not saying that because He wants to punish you rather it is for your blessing.
Why is obedience a portrait of sacrifice?
1. It is because obedience is a way to worship:
Romans 12: 1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Beloved, if you cannot obey the scriptures, then you are not prepared to worship God. The Bible said, the presentation of your body is a living sacrifice! But how many of us are willing to obey God in this regards?
We would rather obey our flesh than obey God! This has breed a lot of carnality amongst the body of Christ. Please note that your worship begins at the point of obedience to God. And we obey God by obeying His word.
2. It is because obedience is better than any other offering;
1 Samuel 15: 22. And Samuel said, Hath 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 hearken than the fat of rams.
Beloved, some of us have been offerings various kinds of sacrifices, such as sacrifice of praise, sacrifice of thanksgivings, sacrifice of materials things/money, sacrifice of brokenness etc!
Yet no results to show as one that is living a life style of sacrifice possibly because we are living in disobedience!
Disobedience to the scriptures equals disobedience to God and also disobedience to the servants of God, place over you equals disobedience to God. Also partial obedience equals disobedience to God! What God required of us is total obedience.
A good example in this regards was King Saul:
He was anointed king/captain over Israel (1Sam.15:1). An instruction came through the servant of God, prophet Samuel. The instructions was so details:
1 Samuel 15: 3. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
However, King Saul obey partially by destroying some and spared some. He even kept some animals for sacrifice/offering contrary to the received instructions.
King Saul later lost the throne because of his obedience was not total as he was made to understand that total obedience is the better than any other sacrifices/offering.
(1 Sam. 15: 22-23)
Beloved, what had God told you in the past? How obedient are you to His instructions? Did God instruct you to be a blessing to a particular family and you refuse? Did you go where He sent you?
Are you doing what He commands you to do? In the coming year of 2023, it is only those that have chosen to obey God and the instructions coming from His servants that are ready for a life of absolute worship because your worship is accepted in the midst of total obedience.
Please understand also that disobedience is fuel by a spirit called the spirit of disobedience! Many of us stop hearing God because we disobey the last instructions we received from Him.
The moment we stopped obeying the last instructions, new one stop coming because until you obey the last, you can’t get a fresh instructions.
Remember this : Heaven is real and hell is real! Your decision for Jesus today will determine your place in eternity tomorrow.
Prayer points:
– Father thank you for your word to me today.
– Father help me to live my life in total obedience in Jesus name.
Prophetic Declaration:
– I declare your season of turnaround story is hear now in the name of Jesus.
– May you be delivered from the spirit of disobedience in the name of Jesus.
From your brother Alex
God bless you.