Obedience Not Sacrifices

July 31, 2020

DAILY READING

Psalm 23

1 Samuel 15:22-31

FIELD NOTES

Obedience. That’s a word we don’t hear that often these days. Yet in our reading today, the prophet Samuel says to King Saul that God wants us to obey him more than he wants our sacrifices. He’d rather us do what he has commanded than for us to give gifts in his name. The passage goes on to say that rebellion and stubbornness are just as bad in God’s eyes as idolatry (verse 23).

So what are God’s commands? Jesus said that loving God and loving people were the two greatest commands (Matthew 22:37-40) and that if we obey these, we’ll be keeping all the law and all the teachings of the prophets. 

QUESTIONS FROM THE FIELD

• If God was giving grades for obedience, what would your grade be? A? B-? D+? How could you improve?
• Jesus reiterated the two most important commandments: loving God and loving neighbor. Which of these two is the hardest for you? Why?

FAMILY FIELD TALK

• What does it mean to obey someone? Who are some of the people in your life that you should obey?
• God says we should obey him, too, by loving him and loving other people. What are some ways you can do that today?

PRAYER GUIDE

Loving God, we turn our hearts over to you today. Please help us to obey you and to put aside our rebellious, stubborn ways. Thank you for loving us. Amen.