“Why didn’t you obey the Lord? Why did you take the best things? Why did you do what the Lord said was wrong?” Saul said, “But I did obey the Lord. I did what the Lord told me to do…”

1 Samuel 15:19-20

Saul only partially obeyed God’s commands and lied to Samuel, claiming that he had been obedient. He made decisions based on his own interests, and the very last sentence of this chapter in 1 Samuel makes it clear how God feels about partial obedience: “And the Lord was sorry he had ever made Saul king of Israel.” (Ouch!!)

What if a surgeon, during surgery, suddenly decides to do only a partial operation? Or suppose a mechanic decides to only partially complete the repairs on a car’s brakes. Imagine the captain of a ship calling, “All hands on deck!” but only one crew member shows up. Disobedience and incomplete work would drastically affect the health and safety of that patient, that car owner, and every person on that ship. Thankfully, most people care about the quality of their work, but many of us like to choose our own way rather than following through on what GOD commands us to do.

God calls, “All hands on deck!” too, and obedience isn’t an option. In the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), Jesus commands us all to GO—GO and make disciples, GO and give and love and encourage and teach and baptize! But many of us feel that if we obey in some areas, we have done enough. Unfortunately, what we see as wins in our faith, God sees as failure to fully obey. Rather than radical obedience, we offer only partial obedience, and partial obedience is disobedience. 

God doesn’t keep a score card for each of His children. He doesn’t give you more points for obeying in one area than in another, and He doesn’t care about your excuses. He cares about your obedience. Radical obedience shows God that you trust Him completely. And when you are obedient and step out to do what He commands, there is someone on the other end who is being blessed. When you fully obey God, there is freedom, there is joy, and the greatest blessings will always be your own. Give God all of you, because He gave you all of HIM! You are loved! 

Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”  Luke 11:28