Wednesday: Obedience
Abel obediently knelt at his altar, holding the lamb offering as God commanded. Cain, on the other hand, furiously knelt at his altar holding the fruit. Both brought offerings, yet only one brother had been obedient to God’s command. 
The slain lamb was accepted, but the produce from the ground was rejected. Both brothers understood the meaning and instructions regarding the offering of sacrifices, but only one obeyed what the Lord had commanded (Gen. 4:1-5).
“The death of Abel was in consequence of Cain’s refusing to accept God’s plan in the school of obedience, to be saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, typified by the sacrificial offerings pointing to Christ. Cain refused the shedding of blood, which symbolized the blood of Christ to be shed for the world.” – Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p. 1109.
Obedience starts in the mind. It involves the delicate process of mentally accepting the responsibility of carrying out commands from a higher authority. Obedience stems from a relationship with an authority figure and the willingness to obey that figure. In the case of our relationship to God, our obedience is a voluntary, loving action that molds our behavior to moral obligations. Obedience to God must be as specific as He directs, and not only as we think or desire it should be. The case of Cain is a perfect example of someone doing his own thing instead of doing what God asks.
Read 1 John 5:2-3 and Romans 1:5; Romans 10:16-17. What do these texts teach us about what obedience means to the Christian, who is saved by faith without the deeds of the law?
We don’t obey to be saved; we obey because we already are saved. Obedience is the practical statement of a moral faith. Samuel told Saul, “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” (1 Sam. 15:22, NKJV).
| What did Samuel mean by “to obey is better than sacrifice”? What should that tell us as Christians that could help us not fall into the false gospel of cheap grace? |
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We can obey out of fear or because we have been forced to but the ONLY obedience that is acceptable before God is that which emanates from a sincere heart Psalms 51:17
" The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise."
Sometimes we may think that what we are doing is right. Although evidence may demonstrate otherwise. But we continue to cling to our mindset! We need to hang on to our position, we feel the need to stand out. While it may seem that our point of view is the correct one, we forget to judge WHY we are doing that! We do not even realize it!
We hold on to this feeling for so long that we may start believing IT is necessary!
How far have we gone astray? How long must we continue to follow the wrong path?
May God change our mind as quickly as possible, so the way back does not get us too tired leading us to fail!
Sometimes God asks us such a simple thing! But we insist in complicate it and make it "more elaborate"!
May God gives us a pure heart, an open book to His love and mercy! He can turn all the stupid patterns of our own ideas into something shiny and positive! May God gives us the sense to follow His Voice, to distinguish from our own!
The lesson study began with a perfect (obedience) sacrifice and ends with the true (obedience) sacrifice.
"It is so much easier for me to live the religion of legalism. It is impossible for me to live the life of broken spirit without being submissive to God.
That we shouldn't sin presumptively just because Of the sacrificial system at the time or just because Christ has become the Sacrifice for all sin. Our disobedience still cost pain to the Saviour.
Michelle, The Apostle Paul had something to say about presumptive sin. Romans 6:1,2. I saw a comment by, JC Zielak that had similar opinions. My prayer is for understanding and enlightenment by the Holy Spirit.
Your conscience is your inner feelings or that loud voice that acts as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of one's behavior. Your conscience reacts to what you have been fortifying your mind with. What you been observing, reading, thinking about, most of the time. If your mind is set on doing evil, that's what it will guide you to do. Even give you ideas how to do it. If you have fortified your mind with the word of God. Studying it's truths and what is right and what is wrong, your conscience, guided by the Holy Spirit will guide to make the right decision. It is still up to you which you will listen to."Let this mind be in you which also was in Christ Jesus" Philippians 2:5. So your conscience is really You and your mark as a Steward.
The last statements on 1 Sam. 15:22- 25 is very important because it's an awesome principle because it takes away legalism in people's life. God desires heart obedience over the ritual sacrifice of animals. Just as Cain, Saul wanted to do things his way. He did not have his heart stayed upon God.
So now the reason and cause of disobedience is simple arrogance and rebellion, weakness and confusion.
That is not true and good stewardship working.
When you read verses 24-25, just as Cain, Saul blame the people for his disobedience.
We are to focus on Jesus's obedience and not our obedience.
Obedience is the result of having been saved by God's appointed means, through Christ. Obedience is the evidence of faith in the life, for we can only be righteous by faith in the Surety. The sinful heart cannot even detect it's own sinfulness, much less, desire to do good, thinking it is already good enough.
I do believe that obedience is like duty, love has to be twins with it, love and duty, love and obedience, love and repentence, love and committment, love and faithfulness, love and loyalty, love and forgivness, love and knowing Christ(who)...why, not just not to be saved, but to love Him. And the Bible says, it is ok to love him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19.
Cain and Abel's story also shows that true worship is built upon true obedience. Cain's approach to God's presence exactly reflects Christ's words in Mark 7:7-9 and was the origin of that popular attitude described in the text.
Obedience demonstrates the depth of our love and trust in God. We can sacrifice and give without loving or trusting. Therefore it is better to obey than to sacrifice.