TO OBEY IS BETTER
"But Samuel replied, 'Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.'"
I Samuel 15:22

Some of the greatest lessons we will ever learn come from learning them firsthand. As a child we seem to learn to not touch a hot stove only by touching it once and feeling the result. In fact, in many cases as kids, it only takes one time of punishment to realize what actions we should not do. But why is it that we have to learn the hard way? When my son was a toddler, my wife at the time and I worked through a program called Growing Kids God's Way. Although I did not agree with every detail, the concept of first time obedience and expecting it from my children was valid. My children, for the most part, obey the first time to this day. However, I cannot say that this same concept is always true of me. At times I find myself like King Saul in I Samuel 15.
The prophet Samuel had shared with Saul that he was to attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belonged to them, including wives, children and all livestock. So Saul set out to do this. However, when it was all said and done, it was only half done. Saul had spared the evil king's life, as well as the best sheep and cattle. Because Saul did not follow fully God's command, God was grieved to have made Saul king. Samuel was sent back to Saul with a new message, this time of bad news.
Saul was happy to give his status report about following God's commands, but when questioned about the animals and the king, Saul blamed his men and said they were for a sacrifice. Sadly, Samuel gave Saul his news that because Saul had not completely obeyed God's command to totally destroy the Amalekites and all they owned, God was rejecting him as the king of Israel. Saul confessed that he did not obey for fear of his people, but it was too late.
How many times do we miss out on God's true blessings for us due to our lack of obedience? Saul was ready to go and make amends with God and give Him a sacrifice, but the point was God wanted obedience from the start. I am guilty of this. I find myself at times not doing what I know God is saying. I am grateful that God does forgive, but that doesn't mean I should go sin on purpose (Romans 6:14). I must obey. If I want God's blessing on my life I must obey all He asks of me. And sometimes what He asks is out of my comfort zone, or contrary to what I want to do. But for you and I, before it is too late, we must obey.

GOD'S INSURANCE POLICY
You who sit down in the High God's presence, spend the night in Shaddai's shadow. Say this: "God, you're my refuge. I trust in you and I'm safe!" That's right - he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you - under them you're perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm.
Psalm 91:1-4 Message

Last month I received paperwork in the mail advising me that my renter's insurance policy was needing to be renewed. At first I thought, 'it's been a year already?', which then led to the question, 'it's going up that much?' So I started shopping around to see what better deals I could find and still get the same coverage. Last night my journey came to an end as I found an agent from church that was able to help me save on both my renter's and auto policy.
But as I was driving into work today, I was reminded about all the times God has kept me safe. His Word says that He is our shield and rampart, and He will protect us from harm. Now first let me say that this does not mean I should not have insurance. I believe that it is a wise thing to own, especially since evil looms in this world and we are all subject to it. But to put all my faith in an insurance policy is crazy. God is a faithful and loving God, and He protects His people.
In the NIV version of this passage, it reads in verse 4 that, "his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." In the Hebrew, Strong's defines these words as COCHERAH and TSINNAH. A Cocherah is a shield or buckler. Tsinnah is something piercing and also shielding. So to think of these words in this context, God is saying that His firm truth and faithfulness is our fortified and protecting shield. When God says that He will take care of us, we can live in the assurance that He will. When God says that He will protect us from the terror by night, or the arrow that flies by day (verse 5), then we can rest in knowing that He will be the shield that covers us from the onslaught of evil coming our way.
In who is your insurance? Do you trust only the people who cover all states, or in the lizard that searches out the best deal? Are you trusting the farmer to protect you? While it is wise, and sometimes required, to have this world's insurance, I challenge you to not trust soley in these methods. Trust in God to protect you and bring you safety. Believe me, the best 'good hands' you can ever be in are God's safe hands.