Be Blessed!

 Have you ever been manipulated? Usually, it was only afterward I realized I had been covertly and skillfully managed to someone else's benefit. Sounds terrible, yet we are guilty of the same thing. In His deep love for us, God has wisely given us instructions to both honor Him and to live honorably among others. Yet! Yet! Yet! we live as if wiser. "Rebellion is as [serious as] the sin of divination (fortune-telling), and disobedience is as [serious as] false religion and idolatry. Because you [King Saul] have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you as king." (1 Samuel 15:23). King Saul paid a tremendous price for rebellion against God, acting in his own wisdom, doing things his own way. In V.25 God makes clear He takes great delight in obedience rather than  "burnt offerings and sacrifices." We can say with our lips all-day-and-every-day we love God but it's the obedient heart alone that honors God! Perhaps we do not think of ourselves as rebels or rebellious but when we choose to do anything other than obey God, that's exactly what we are. Let us turn aside from spiritual rebellion - manipulating our lives to suit ourselves, to our own benefit. God's commands to us are not burdensome; He loves us and has instructed us to honor Him and to our greatest benefit. Obey Him and be blessed!