Disobedience

Recently, I read over 1 Samuel 15, and I could not help but to see Saul’s disobedience relate to mines. Saul is one of the most interesting men in the Bible to me. He was a guy who had it all: the crown, money, fame, and God, but he lost it all because he put his material possessions and himself above the true and mighty (Mark 8:36). When we are disobedient, we are doing the same thing as Saul. We’re putting ourselves, our fears, or other people above God.

Just last week, me and about ten other girls had a marriage ceremony to Christ. In this ceremony we spoke our vows, put on our purity rings,  and dedicated our entire lives (mind, soul, body, spirit) to Jesus. Through this whole experience, a sisterhood was built. Together we work to encourage each other to live pure lives. About two years ago, God called me to start this ministry. So, summer 2013 I worked with God to write a six week series entitled “What Makes Us Fall into the Pattern of Fornication So Easily?” It explored the absence of God in our spiritual walks, things that happened to us in our past, dating the wrong men, and different things that lead us to go astray. God had prepared me to do his work, but I stayed stuck and didn’t move on his task. Why? Because I was afraid. My past disqualifies me from being a person to even speak about purity, but God qualified me. It wasn’t until February 2014 that I actually began the series. And I thought that after I had done my six weeks, I was done. But the work for the Lord is never done. So this past semester, God helped me write a series entitled “Married with Christ.” The truth is that I, like Saul, put my own ideology before God's. I was disobedient with the task he asked me to do. 

These are some of the amazing pictures from our marriage ceremony

We are called to do God’s will. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. Even when it is hard, or difficult we are called to do God’s will. Trust me, it was hard for me to step out of my comfort zone to start this ministry, but it was possible (Philippians 4:13).

 I want to be like Jesus. Who in the garden of Gethsemane was distressed and grieved, yet he  still asked for the Father’s will to be done. Matthew 26:39. You see, when we do God’s will, it is not for us, but for his glory. Doing his will may not only just help us but others as well. So it’s crucial that we don’t allow disobedience to take a hold of us.
 
 (So, as I was reading 1 Samuel 15, I saw disobedience throughout. And, I saw myself. I suggest you flip open your Bible so that it may be easier to understand and follow along. To sum it up, God gave Saul a task: destroy the Amaleks. But Saul kept the king and all of the good animals).Here are my notes:

God’s ways are always just even when we don’t understand (1 Samuel 15:2-3). We like to think we have it all figured out and that we’re smarter than God, but we’re not. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

When we blatantly disobey God‘s instructions, it shows a lack of reverence for God. (1 Samuel 15:8-9)

We think we’re right in our own eyes, so we justify our sins. (1 Samuel 15:15). 

•  For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God   is stronger than human strength 1 Corinthians 1:25.

• For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight 1 Corinthians 3:19.

We cannot add or take away from God’s instructions (1 Samuel 15:20-21).
    Satan led Eve astray in the garden of Eden because he added one word to God’s.     (Genesis 2:17 & Genesis 3:4)

“Obedience is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). If you obey first, you don’t have to worry about making up your own sacrifice. In your obedience, you  do the sacrifice God has already called you to do.

Verse 23: For rebellion is like the sin of divination and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.

  Rebellion is compared to the sin of divination (horoscopes, fortune tellers). Why? Because when we rebel we are seeking out our own future/ways without looking for God. Arrogance = to the evil of idolatry. You are your own god. You put yourself above God’s word.
This verse also reminds me of grace. How many times have I rejected the word of God, but he didn’t reject me? He knows our hearts. Saul’s heart was hardened against God because it was so puffed up for himself. Even though my heart is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9), God understands it. He knew I wanted to do his will, in starting his ministry, even though I operated in fear. Yet, he showed me patience.

Verse 24: Saul states why he was disobedient, “I was afraid of the men and so I gave into them.” I want to remind you of Galatians 1:10-  “Am I trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

Verse 33: So,  Samuel carried out God’s instructions that He had given to Saul. But no one can be obedient for you, it’s your choice. Even if Saul had decide to kill King Agag  after Samuel’s visit, it would have been delayed obedience which is still disobedience.

So when God gives you a task to do, you do it immediately. Don’t try to put your human intellect and understanding into it. Let your obedience operate over your intelligence. 

Peace & Love

Rest.

This season in my life has been wonderfully full. I have been busy working for the Lord, working on my school work, and working at my two jobs. I recently came to the realization that I barely make time for myself to just rest. So, today, I determined to spend my Saturday hanging out with myself, my cat, and most importantly, Jesus. 

Me and the beautiful Jesus

“So on the seventh day he rested from all his work” Genesis 2:2

Rest is particularly important, if it wasn’t then God wouldn’t have done it. 

I can become so busy that I don’t take the time to focus on myself. Even though today I was determined to spend the day with just myself today, I had to still serve. Jesus has blessed me so much during this time in my life that I realize that I find myself by being around others and serving. 

I am a people person simply put. I know it is easy for me to complain that I am so busy all of the time, but I realize that years ago I had nothing to do. I prayed for God to use me and that is exactly what he has been doing. Even on my days of rest, I still have to work for the Lord. 

Minus the few hours it took to support and help out some people, the day was spent with  four of the most important men in my life (God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit,  and my cat haha). I realize that we can become so busy working for the Lord that we forget the Lord. Spending time with Christ is essential to our Christian walk. 

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 29:12-14. 

Quiet time with Christ should be apart of all of our daily lives. I know that when I am not spending enough time with Christ the works of my flesh start to arise. Last night and earlier today I felt the spirit of depression trying to get to me. I thank God that He lets me know when the enemy is trying to attack. The devil’s schemes are nothing new, he tries the same old things. I knew I had two options: lie in bed and let sorrow sweep over me or go to God and give him my burdens (Matthew 11:28-30). 

God wants you to come to him so that he can give you rest. Come to him by spending to with him. Set aside time in your life to just rest in his presence. 

Get thirsty for Jesus  so that you can get your well needed rest.

I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35