Obedience is Better than Sacrifice

Monday Musing is a wonderful day for a devotional, "of or used in religious worship" comprises its dictionary definition. What do we think of when we consider worship? Singing, right? In my mind’s view, my eyes are closed, my head tilted heavenward, and my hands are raised. Singing quiet soulful songs that extol His greatness, His Holiness.

But have you ever thought of obedience as worship? Ancient fathers in the Bible offered sacrifices in worship, and I Samuel 15:22 says, Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice. Speaking of Jesus, Hebrews 5: 8-9 tells us though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.

We are to Cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ according to II Corinthians 10:5. And Romans 5: 19 and 6:16 both speak of obedience unto righteousness. So, you’re with me right?

And the promises Gods showers on those of His children who obey! Isaiah 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. John 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. I Kings 11:38 And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee. Proverbs 1:33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil; and  8:32 for blessed are they that keep my ways. Isaiah 48:18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.

And for those who do not, Scripture speaks of casting them away, delivering them into their enemies hands, gives them up unto their own hearts' lust to walk in their own counsels.

So…Be it known this is a totally different direction from my initial my intent when I started this, but my middle name in Lavonne which means ‘like a willow, bendable’ so I follow Him where He leads. Someone needs to hear this.

Titus 2: 5 commands us to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. And Ephesians 5:22-24: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Submission is defined as the action of yielding to the will or authority of another person. And as married women, we are to submit ourselves to our husbands AS UNTO THE LORD. God's Word doesn’t add ‘if he’s doing everything he should’ or ‘unless he drinks too much', 'feeds the lust of his flesh', or 'ignores you all the time'. There are actually no qualifiers. Yes, he has his responsibilities as a husband, BUT rejoice! You are not responsible for his actions…only yours. And you KNOW what YOU are to do before God…to please Him.

Whew! I know it’s hard. I’ve been there. But I can testify ladies, if you hearken to Him and CHOOSE obedience, He WILL move on your behalf, grip your husband’s heart, and change him before your eyes. Ron and I have been together since we were sixteen, forty-nine years (47 married), and they weren't all peaches and cream. With God's help and both our obedience, we made it through a lot of hard, rough times! Every time you get through one of those together, you come out stronger and deeper in love.

And oh, mercy! It is SO worth it. Trust Him unto obedience and receive all His promises. 

My soon-coming book, Children of Eber, volume 4 of The Generations Biblical fiction series debuts November 11th, my eleventh release of 2015! 

Without faith, it is impossible to please God.

     At the time Abram is called to a strange, pagan land by the God of his fathers, Shem still walks the earth. At his death, his great-grandson Eber becomes the patriarch. Abraham, never the oldest living firstborn, is rewarded with power and riches for his obedience to leave his home and sojourn. Still—though the Lord has promised him an heir—his beloved wife remains barren, which tears daily at her heart.

     Almighty God visits His prophet, talks with him, forgives his indiscretions, and cleans up the messes he makes. The Lord promises amazing things including all of the lands where Abram walks for him and his heirs as a possession and that nations will come forth from his loins—descendants too numerous to be counted. The well-known story of the Father of Faith comes to life in Children of Eber.

     Walk with the man honored by today’s the three major faiths.

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BIO: Caryl McAdoo currently writes four series, all with a Christian perspective: the historical ‘Texas Romance’; a contemporary ‘Red River Romance’; The Generations, her Biblical fiction; and the King’s Highway trilogy, a mid-grade any day dystopian. The best-selling novelist loves singing new songs the Lord gives her, and she paints. In 2008, she and her high school sweetheart-husband Ron moved from the DFW area—home for fifty-five years—to the woods of Red River County. Caryl counts four children and sixteen grandsugars life’s biggest blessings believing all good things come from God. Praying her story gives God glory, she hopes each one will also minister His love, mercy, and grace to its readers. Caryl and Ron live in Clarksville, the county seat, in the far northeast corner of the Lone Star State with two grandsons, Christian and Benjamen.