May 14: “Obey!” - from Keisha Polak

1 Samuel 15:1-16:23 

John 8:1-20
Psalm 110:1-7 

Proverbs 15:8-10 

Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, 

     and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. 

- 1 Samuel 15:22

As I read through the scripture for today, I found myself focused on Samuel's words, and in my head kept repeating "OBEY". 

Saul had continued to disobey the Lord's direct order and when Samuel confronted Saul about his wrong doings, instead of being honest and repenting of his actions, Saul attempted to justify his bad behavior. He claimed, in this situation, that the stolen livestock were for sacrifice. 

In a way, I believe that Saul felt that even though he knew he was doing wrong, he felt he had a "way out" or means of justification because he could perform a sacrifice to attempt to make a sin somehow a holy act. I feel that is something that people do all the time nowadays. Individuals will take advantage of an act of kindness they have shown by using it as a means to justify some other sinful actions they have taken part in. 

If you ask most people if they believe they are a "good person", they will say yes. That is because they are using all of their good or kind moments throughout their life to justify all of their sins, and no one can do that except for Jesus Christ. 

Samuel's words really struck me, instead of using a means to justify your sin, just work on turning away from your sin. Obey the Lord's commands and every day redirect yourself to Him. Saul's life shows me that it is ALL or nothing. Partial obedience is total disobedience.