To Those Who Don't Obey

Throughout scripture, God gives us a clear picture of how important it is to obey his Word. We see one such example in the life of King Saul. God gave Saul clear, specific commands through the prophet Samuel: “Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey” (1 Samuel 15:3, NKJV).

Did Saul obey this command from the Lord? Scripture tells us, “And Saul attacked the Amalekites…. He also took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and…spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed” (1 Samuel 15:7-9).

God had spoken to Saul in crystal-clear terms. After Saul went into battle, though, he obeyed the Lord only in part. Rather than destroying everyone and everything, he spared King Agag and kept some of the spoils of battle.

Samuel was stricken with grief when he heard this. At this point, scripture gives us a grievous, chilling word: “Now the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, ‘I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments.’ And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the Lord all night” (1 Samuel 15:10-11). God rejected Saul for his disobedience.

God is telling us through this passage that he means what he says. He is saying, “I’m showing you how I feel about your obedience to me. I want all of your heart, not just a halfhearted obedience!”

Does this describe your life? Has God told you in no uncertain terms to deal with a certain habit, yet you keep clinging to it, refusing to cut it off? His Spirit may be speaking to you right now in a kind, wooing voice, saying, “Your sin stands between us, interrupting our communion. I can no longer bless you while you persist in it. Trust my Spirit to help you, my child.” Any sacrifice, no matter how painful in the moment, is worth renewed communion with the Holy Ghost and peace before Christ!