Deadly Disobedience - Daily Devotional July 14th 2009

Daily Bible Reading Plan - 1 Samuel 28, Jeremiah 4, Matthew 15

Deadly Disobedience (I Samuel 28:18)

Obedience is a major topic in our house 24/7 and that is probably because we have a 7 year old and a 5 year old at home. There are times I find myself reminding my daughters over and over and over again to just obey. When they disobey there is punishment and when they obey there are rewards. Those rewards are not ice cream cones, treats or movies but something much more significant. Those rewards are peace in the house and right standing with mom and dad. The lesson we must teach them is that one day they will not longer answer to us but to God.

God is a way better rewarder than we are although I don't think He will be handing out ice cream cones and treats either. The reason I reward my children and discipline them the way I do is because I see the potential danger in disobedience. If we allow disobedience into our lives on a smaller scale we will one day disobey on a larger scale and this can be deadly.

In our passage today we see that Saul's disobedience became very deadly. The exact words used by Samuel were, "because you did not obey the voice of the Lord...tomorrow you and your sons will be with me (dead)". This is so powerful for us to understand because not only was the kingdom ripped from him and given to David but his very life was taken from him as well. We can not underestimate the importance of obedience and we cannot let the things we think are little slide. If we do we are setting ourselves up for deadly disobedience.

The Bible says in Proverbs 14:12, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death". There are many things that may seem right to us but if it is not obedience to God than we need not to do it. Understand that it is not one time disobedience that brings death but as you begin to set a pattern of disobedience like Saul did that will lead to death. We need to wait on God and listen to him and set a pattern of obedience so that in the words of Spock we can, "live long and prosper".

What areas are there in your life that you need to surrender to God and walk in obedience? What areas are you doing that seem right to you but are leading down a path to death? Think about it today and do some inventory on our life. Walk in obedience and stay away from deadly disobedience.

Thanks for doing the devotional today.

Tomorrows Bible Reading - 1 Samuel 29 - 30, Jeremiah 5, Matthew 16

Dream Big
Ben