Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Partial Obedience: is it that bad?

Today, we are reminded that God’s mission comes with specific instructions and whilst it is one thing to GO (when He sends us), it’s another thing to promptly & COMPLETELY DO as we are instructed.

When Prophet Samuel was speaking to King Saul in 1 Samuel 15:22-23 (GNT), the Bible says: [22] Samuel said, “Which does the Lord prefer: obedience or offerings and sacrifices? It is better to obey him than to sacrifice the best sheep to him. [23] Rebellion against him is as bad as witchcraft, and arrogance is as sinful as idolatry. Because you rejected the Lord’s command, he has rejected you as king.”

Come on Samuel, that sounds harsh! Saul did 95-99% of what he was asked to do! Interestingly, the above conversation happened on the back of King Saul returning from a mission he received from God through Samuel. At face value, it looked like Saul did ALL that he was instructed to do but when Samuel probed more, he found out that Saul didn’t. Saul slightly modified the instruction because he feared the people, blamed the people, valued man’s opinion over God’s, had his self-centred “noble/reasonable” explanation for his actions, justified the result over the process, etc…. Of course, he went on the mission, but did not completely carry out God’s instruction. As a result, he lost his seat on the throne and eventually, he lost his life.

Beloved, what about you? You may appear to men as one who obeys God but are you doing only what works for you, when it works for you, how it works for you and justifying your actions with the fact that at least, you are doing bits and pieces here and there with “some results”? Without mixing words, partial obedience is still a form of disobedience. God deserves our all and when we try to replace complete obedience to His instructions with slight modifications leading to reasonable explanations, hard sacrificial seemingly spiritual efforts, shortcuts, excuses, etc, the Bible likens us to those who practice witchcraft and idolatry and the end result is losses and death if we do not genuinely repent.

Lord God, have mercy on us, please help us to be a people who consistently, promptly and completely obey Your instructions in Jesus name, amen.

With love and blessing,

Otega