God is not impressed.....

God is not impressed with the works of our hands when our hearts are not refined by the work of His Hand. 

That's the lesson we learn from the episode in 1 Samuel 15. God's instruction to Saul was very clear in verse 3 -"Destroy the Amalekites and leave nothing behind". Saul did just as he was commanded except he saved the king and the best of the cattle.(verse 9). Saul gave two seemingly good reasons for his actions:
  • The soldiers did it
  • They saved the best cattle so that they can offer it as a sacrifice to the Lord.
Doesn't it sound brilliant. It was done for a very good cause -Worship to the Lord. But God had a very different opinion, In verse 11 - “I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.” 

Two key lessons we can learn from here:

  • Don't pass the buck. Accept responsibility for your mistakes and the mistakes of your subordinates. Saul readily shifted the blame on his men when the he was in charge and he had the opportunity to correct the mistakes of his men. We see the chromosomes that mutated in the garden of Eden rearing its ugly traits through the generations of Adam. It appears even today in more subtle forms. Dare to be like David, who when confronted, said, "I have sinned". That's the hallmark of a good leader. 
  • Partial obedience is no obedience. All our givings, offerings and all the outward exhibition of prophetic worship, no matter how mesmerizing and spiritual it may appear to be, it does not please God when the heart is not totally obedient to Him. It may win the approval and applause of men, men who only see the gift and not the heart of the giver. But God is certainly not impressed. God was not impressed with his 99% obedience, even though it was for a worthy cause. Let me give you some practical examples as seen from my own life:
    • Using your tithes for other good activities when it should have been given to the church
    • Praising God in the church but with unforgiveness in your heart
    • Always giving an excuse to justify one's wrong doing 
    • Talking about discipline but when there is no discipline in one's life. By the way if you are overweight, that's a clear indication you are not disciplined. You are simply lazy.
    • Preaching one thing and doing another
    • Actively engaged in ministry but living in secret sin 
    • God does not want our money if it was earned illegally. 
    • Doing things to seek the approval of man
    • Doing things to God out of obligation

David learnt this lesson in very gruesome circumstances when he cried in Psalms 51:16-17 - You are not happy with any sacrifice. Otherwise, I would offer one to you.You are not pleased with burnt offerings. The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. O God, you do not despise a broken and sorrowful heart. 

God wants to refine our hearts so that it is totally obedient and fully surrendered to Him. Only then will the work of our hands be a sweet smelling savour in His presence.  

When we walk with the Lord 
in the light of his word, 
what a glory he sheds on our way! 
While we do his good will, 
he abides with us still, 
and with all who will trust and obey.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Remembering Sis Jenima Sharma - A tribute

Image
Sis Jenima went to be with the Lord on 14 Nov 2024, after battling with  Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) for some time.  This is our tribute to her. It was in 2008, when I first met Sis Jenima, the wife of our Bishop Samuel Sharma. It was during our first trip to NE India, Jaigaon in particular. We were there to conduct a pastors' conference at the bidding of Bishop Samuel who had attended the Haggai Leaders' Experience in Singapore a few months earlier. This was the beginning. She was demure, quiet, hardly spoke a word in English. But she was extremely hospitable and genuinely kind. At that time they lived in a very simple house, with hardly any furnishing, all because of the call of God upon her life to serve the Master.  But one thing was certain. She loved the Lord, her husband and her two young children. She always wanted them to serve the Lord all their lives. She was a remarkable woman whose life reflected the love and grace of God in every aspect.  He...
Read more

Devotion - Psalms 44: 6-7 - Its God who gives the victory

Image
Psalms 44:6-7 - I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. Any soldier will know that the basic weapon of warfare, in those days, were the bow and sword. Without which no soldier will not venture into the battle field. Even the famed Goliath was geared in full battle order when he faced David with the stones and the sling. Isn't it a paradox then that David, one of the finest soldiers Israel had ever produced, proclaims that its not the bow and the sword that gives the victory. Its is the Lord, Jehovah, that gives the victory. I don't think David is trying to say that we should not prepare ourselves for warfare. His concern is that we recognize that ultimately its the Lord that gives the victory. A few things we need to remember: Human efforts are necessary in the God-man partnership Human efforts alone does not guarantee God intended results Recognize that its God that always gives u...
Read more

25th Wedding Annivesary - Silver Jubilee

Image
11-1-11 - 25th Wedding Anniversary. Today my wife and I celebrate our Silver Jubilee, 25 years of being married together. How time flies. I look out of the window, the weather reminiscent of the day we got married. It was raining the whole day and so is today. How appropriate. Praise God for His faithfulness in our lives and for the blessings He has given us. Lam 3:22-23 - Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. It has been a wonderful journey. Yes there were disagreements, quarrels, desperation and even "fights" but through it all, our love has grown stronger for the Lord , for the family, for the ministry and for one another. Jeya has been the magnet that holds our family together. Almost three months in a year I am out of country for ministry and kids busy in school. But she has always been the inventory holder that keeps reminding of the things that needs to be done an...
Read more