Obedience is sacrifice

1 Samuel 15:22
So Samuel said:
“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 heed than the fat of rams.

Saul was not intent on obedience or sacrifice, he was consumed with self promotion. In 1 Samuel 15:12 he even build a monument in his own honor. His only reason for or thought of sacrifice was as a justification for what he had done. This is a typical pattern after disobedience. We try to shift the balance in our favor by suggesting good to balance out the bad. Even I fall into this pattern. I justify sinful behavior by calculating all the time and compensation I've sacrificed by working at a church. I reason falsely that I am owed certain privileges or benefits in response to my sacrifice, almost as compensation. However, sacrifice with compensation is no sacrifice at all. Sacrifice is selfless. Sacrifice is also impossible without obedience. I can disobediently sacrifice but I cannot sacrificially disobey. Obedience is sacrifice. Obedience requires that I sacrifice my agenda, my ambition, my reputation, my comfort, my stuff, my life. This is what the Lord requires of me, nothing less.

God forgive me for justifying my disobedience with sacrifice. Humble me and help me learn to sacrificially obey daily. Amen.