Obedience is Worship
Samuel said, “Which does the Lord prefer: obedience or offerings and sacrifices? It is better to obey him than to sacrifice the best sheep to him. Rebellion against him is as bad as witchcraft, and arrogance is as sinful as idolatry. Because you have rejected the Lord’s command, he has rejected you as king.” -1 Samuel 15:22-23
Worship is being obedient to God. It doesn’t just consist of singing and dancing, but includes much more. We worship through our daily actions of obedience to God’s Word. If we are not obeying God daily through our thoughts, decisions and plans then we aren’t worshipping him, but living in adultery. After all, when we don’t follow God we are following something or someone else. Making decisions based on the character of Christ and following God’s commands is the best worship we can offer. It puts us in line with His will and keeps us on the right path. A sacrifice means nothing if we disobeyed God in order to offer it. Take Abraham, for example, he was told to take his son, Isaac, up the mountain and offer him as a sacrifice. What if Abraham would have offered something else, sparing his son? That sacrifice would have meant nothing to God. No, when we don’t obey completely, our sacrifice is for nothing.
Then he said to the servants, “ Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there and worship, and then we will come back to you.” -Genesis 22:5
Abraham refused to offer anything but his son, building an alter and tying him down he thought that his sacrifice was his worship to God, but it was his obedience that God wanted in the end. The other day I asked my daughter to use a pencil while doing her math homework, instead of a pen. She argued with me and in the end it was never really about what she used, in fact, I really could have cared less what she used to write down her answers. It was always about her listening and respecting me, obeying me. Knowing that she heard my request and followed through with it in obedience would matter most. Don’t be confused by your sacrifices. Don’t count on your worship without listening to what God wants from you. He isn’t looking for your worship near as closely as he is concerned with your obedience, because with obedience comes everything else. Be encouraged. God knew that what he asked of Abraham was unthinkable and in the end He gave him a way out. He may be asking you to do something difficult but think of your obedience as much more than that. Go and worship!