1 Samuel 15:22 (AMPC)
“To obey is better than sacrifice…”
Michael was deeply committed to God. He prayed fervently, fasted consistently, served faithfully, and gave sacrificially. From the outside, his walk with God looked solid, admirable, and even inspiring, but beneath the layers of those spiritual activities, there was one clear instruction he kept postponing: forgive.
Each time the Holy Spirit gently impressed it on his heart, he always found a way to silence the nudge and instead of obeying, he would always offer substitutes like giving more, praying more and attending spiritual meetings more, but what he did not realize is that God does not measure devotion by activity alone, He weighs obedience too. He did not realize that his many spiritual works were slowly becoming a refuge from the one thing God was asking of him. His prayers were sincere, but selective. His fasting was intense, but incomplete. He was doing many good things while avoiding the one necessary thing.
Forgiveness is not an optional virtue in the Kingdom; it is a command tied directly to our fellowship with God. Jesus was clear: “If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.” No amount of praying can override disobedience. No level of sacrifice can replace a surrendered heart.
Delayed obedience is still disobedience.
Michael’s story shows us that it is possible to be spiritually busy yet inwardly resistant; to look so devoted and committed while one is quietly negotiating with God and there are many of us who obey loudly in public areas while we disobey quietly in private matters.
Beloved, God does not want substitutes for instructions, He wants total surrender. He is not impressed by what we add when we refuse what He asked, because the real test of spirituality with Him is not how much we do for Him, but how quickly and fully we obey Him, especially when obedience is painful, humbling, and costly.
Selective obedience is often disguised as spiritual maturity, but it is simply disobedience wearing religious clothes.
The moment Michael chose forgiveness, it felt like death, not the death of his faith, but the death of his pride, his right to be justified, and his attachment to the pain. It was costly, uncomfortable, and deeply personal, so much that everything in his flesh resisted it.
The heaviness he had carried for so long lifted quietly, without noise or drama. The weight he had mistaken for “strength” fell off. His prayers no longer felt blocked. His worship flowed again. The distance he couldn’t explain vanished and INTIMACY RETURNED
Practical Application
Today, ask the Holy Spirit this question in prayer: “What am I avoiding?” Write down the first instruction that comes to your heart. Take one concrete step toward obedience today (send the message, make the call, release the offense, stop the habit). Do not negotiate. Obey simply and fully.
Confession
Lord, I renounce selective obedience. I surrender every area where I have delayed Your instruction. I choose obedience over comfort, truth over convenience, and surrender over self-protection. I declare that my heart is yielded fully to You. I obey You not partially, not emotionally, but completely and joyfully. My life brings You pleasure because self no longer rules me.
Related Scriptures: Luke 6:46; James 1:22
Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 3
