Advent DevotionalSample

The Story of Saul

Have you ever done the wrong thing with the right intentions? Maybe you tried to intervene in a conflict and just made it worse, or you tried to follow somebody’s instructions but accidentally messed things up? This is what we find Saul doing: obeying most of God’s instructions and convincing himself that he was doing the right thing. There are two problems here. The first is that— with God— partial obedience is disobedience. In verse 3, God listed all of what Saul was to destroy. However, when the time came, he spared them. He disobeyed.

Sometimes we disobey because we don’t trust God to deliver. Sometimes we disobey because what God asks goes against our desires. Saul represents a third and more dangerous reason: sometimes we disobey because we’ve deceived ourselves into thinking we’re doing what God wants. Saul was disconnected with the motives of his heart. He deceived himself into thinking he reserved the choice cattle for God, but it isn’t until Samuel confronts him that he reveals his true motive: he was afraid of his men’s displeasure.

Reflect

Where are you justifying partial obedience in your life? What’s one way you can practice obedience today?

Pray

God, give me the wisdom to see where I’ve excused myself from obeying you and the courage to obey you wholeheartedly.