To Obey...

'to obey is better than sacrifice..' 1 Sam. 15.22

Yesterday, I was at Hannah's for a visit with my mom. We were getting ready for lunch, and I told Joshua it was time to eat, and for him to get up in his chair. His response? 'No.' He was sitting on the couch in the living room, and I was in the dining room. I walk out to him, with my Nana stern face on, and told him it was time to get in his chair. He just looked at me. I told him to listen and obey, which is what his parents say to him. He got off the couch and walked toward me, eyes fixed, no expression. As he passed by me, he kissed my hand, and continued on to the dining room. What a stinker! It was not a kiss of 'I love you and I will obey', but, 'I am doing this because I want to, because I don't want a spanking, but maybe a kiss will make you think I am being obedient, and repentant.'

When I got home, I thought about it again, and it came to me, how many times I have treated the Lord the same way? Giving an affectation of obedience to the Lord. How many times has He told me to do something, more than once, I do it, not because I want to, because I know it is good and right to do so, but out of, 'I'll do it so I won't get in trouble, oh, and here is a kiss Lord so it looks like I am obeying.' To obey, (doing what I am told with humility and quick response), is better than sacrifice, ( having to give up something because I have to). If my kids obeyed me when first told to do something, all was well. It was when they did what they were told, more than once, to do, with an attitude, that they got in trouble. Is it not the same for me?

Keith Green wrote a song many years ago, that still speaks truth today. Christ wants my life, daily, without dragging my feet, without pretense, but with humility. Joyfully giving to Him, because He is my Heavenly Father, and I should do nothing less.

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzWyZxlwGKI