For Those Desiring a Deep Christian Faith...
  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Daily Meditation
  • Past Daily Meditations
    • 2023 Meditations
    • June Meditations >
      • June 2
      • June 5
      • June 7
      • June 9
    • May Meditations >
      • May 2
      • May 4
      • May 6
      • May 9
      • May 12
      • May 14
      • May 16
      • May 18
      • May 20
      • May 22
    • April Meditations >
      • April 2
      • April 4
      • April 7
      • April 9
      • April 11
      • April 14
      • April 16
      • April 19
      • April 21
      • April 23
      • April 25
      • April 27
      • April 29
    • March Meditations >
      • March 1
      • March 16
      • March 18
      • March 21
      • March 23
      • March 25
      • March 27
      • March 29
      • March 31
    • February Meditations >
      • February 1
      • February 3
      • February 5
      • February 7
      • February 9
      • February 11
      • February 14
      • February 16
      • February 18
      • February 20
      • February 22
      • February 24
      • February 26
    • January Meditations >
      • January 1
      • January 4
      • January 6
      • January 9
      • January 11
      • January 13
      • January 15
      • January 17
      • January 20
      • January 22
      • January 24
      • January 26
      • January 28
      • January 30
    • 2022 Daily Meditations >
      • February 2022 Meditatons
      • March 2022 Meditations
      • April 2022 Meditations
      • May 2022 Meditations
      • June 2022 Meditations
      • July 2022 Meditations
      • August 2022 Meditations
      • September 2022 Meditations
      • October 2022 Meditations
      • November 2022 Meditations
      • December 2022 Meditations
    • 2021 Daily Meditations >
      • January 2021 Meditations
      • February 2021 Meditations
      • March 2021 Meditations
      • April 2021 Meditations
      • May 2021 Meditations
      • June 2021 Meditations
      • July 2021 Meditations
      • August 2021 Meditations
      • September 2021 Meditations
      • October 2021 Meditations
      • November 2021 Meditations
      • December 2021 Meditations
    • 2020 Daily Meditations >
      • January 2020 Archive
      • February 2020 Archive
      • March 2020 Archive
      • April 2020 Archive
      • May 2020 Archive
      • June 2020 Archive
      • July 2020 Archive
      • August 2020 Archive
      • September 2020 Archive
      • October 2020 Archive
      • November 2020 Archive
      • December 2020 Archive
    • 2019 Daily Meditations >
      • January 2019 Archive
      • February 2019 Archive
      • March 2019 Archive
      • April 2019 Archive
      • May 2019 Archive
      • June 2019 Archive
      • July 2019 Archive
      • August 2019 Archive
      • September 2019 Archive
      • October 2019 Archive
      • November 2019 Archive
      • December 2019 Archive
    • 2018 Daily Meditations >
      • December 2018 Archive
      • November 2018 Archive
      • October 2018 Archive
      • September 2018 Archive
      • August 2018 Archive
      • July 2018 Archive
      • June 2018 Archive
      • May 2018 Archive
      • April 2018 Archive
      • March 2018 Archive
      • February 2018 Archive
      • January 2018 Archive
    • 2017 Daily Meditations >
      • January 2017 Archive
      • February 2017 Archive
      • March 2017 Archive
      • April 2017 Archive
      • May 2017 Archive
      • June 2017 Archive
      • July 2017 Archive
      • August 2017 Archive
      • September 2017 Archive
      • October 2017 Archive
      • November 2017 Archive
      • December 2017 Archive
  • Special Bible Studies
    • Do you hold a grudge?
    • Have you actually asked for God's help?
    • Sin is the cause of all your problems
    • Amazing Grace!
    • Are you consumed by worry?
    • Is God punishing you?
    • Spiritual Warfare
    • Stubborn?
    • How often do you pray?
    • Have doubts?
    • Who are you listening to?
    • Emotional Black Holes
    • Unanswered prayers?
    • Have you compromised your faith?
    • Life in the pits...
    • Is your life in a rut?
    • Demonic Influences?
    • Let God Ease Your Burdens!
    • Danger of Success
    • Feeling alone
    • Are you broken-hearted?
    • Feel vulnerable?
    • Is God pushing you?
    • Do you lack faith
    • Being Tested
    • Your Place in Heaven
    • Does your past haunt you?
    • Is worldliness creeping into your life?
    • What is acceptable worship?
    • Angry?
    • Spiritual Radar
    • Can you be obedient to God?
    • Courage in the Face of Trials
    • Does Hell Exist
    • A Sin of Omission
    • When Life Gets Crazy
    • When God is Silent
    • Weakness
    • On Death and Dying
    • Feeling Guilty for no Reason?
    • Is wealth damaging your faith?
    • Satans Games
    • Death and Eternal Life
    • Depression
    • Family Problems
    • False Guilt
    • Food Issues
    • A Lack of Forgiveness
    • Frustration
    • Jealousy or Envy
    • Life out of Balance
    • Lying to Yourself or Others
    • Getting Married
    • Missions and Outreach
    • Prayer Life
    • Repentance
    • Sharing the Faith
    • Socialism
    • Stressed out
    • Impatience
    • Too Hard on Yourself
  • Uplifting Video for the Day
  • Videos for Reflection
    • Videos for Reflection 2
    • Videos for Reflection 3
    • Videos for Reflection 4
    • Videos for Reflection 5
    • Videos for Reflection 6
    • Videos for Reflection 7
    • Videos for Reflection 8
    • Videos for Reflection 9
    • Videos for Reflection 10
    • Videos for Reflection 11
    • Videos for Reflection 12
    • Videos for Reflection 13
    • Videos for Reflection 14
    • Videos for Reflection 15
    • Videos for Reflection 16
  • COVID Vaccine
  • Standing up for God
    • Jatya
    • Archbishop Mouche
    • Pastor Andrew Brunson
    • Our Coptic Christian Friends
    • Petr Jasek
  • Bible Challenge Gateway
  • Faith Issues in the Modern World
    • Preacher Arrested for Protesting Pride Event
    • Christians Attacked by ISIS in Mozambique
    • The Pope Changes Lord's Prayer
    • Museum of the Bible Washington DC USA
    • Persecution at All-Time High
    • Suicide Bombing in Pakistan Christian Church
    • Attack by Muslim terrorists against Egyptian Church
    • Underground Christians in China
    • More Persecution of Chinese Christians
    • The Growing Church in Iran
    • Christian Parenting Failing God
  • Video Studies
    • Video Bible Study Introduction
    • Prayer in the Bible
    • Faith Hebrews 11
  • Walls of Inspiration
    • Wall of Inspiration 1
    • Wall of Inspiration 2
    • Wall of Inspiration 3
    • Wall of Inspiration 4
    • Wall of Inspiration 5
    • Wall of Inspiration 6
    • Wall of Inspiration 7
    • Wall of Inspiration 8
    • Wall of Inspiration 9
    • Wall of Inspiration 10
    • Wall of Inspiration 11
    • Wall of Inspiration 12
    • Wall of Inspiration 13
    • Wall of Inspiration 14
    • Wall of Inspiration 15
    • Wall of Inspiration 16
    • Wall of Inspiration 17
    • Wall of Inspiration 18
    • Wall of Inspiration 19
    • Wall of Inspiration 20
    • Wall of Inspiration 21
  • Bible Helps
  • Stories of God's Power
  • Comments
  • Bible Challenge Badge Earners
  • Yearly Meditations Template

January 15

“But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22, NLT)
Picture
One of the things that drives people away from loving Jesus is misplaced religiosity.  Religiosity is normally defined as “a strong belief or feeling”.  Others define it as “the quality or state of being religious”.  You might think by the definition that religiosity would be a good thing.  Good Christians should have strong beliefs, right?  If the religious devotion is in line with God’s will, yes.  However, religious devotion can be wrongly applied.   When a person cares more about how their faith appears to others than to God, their religiosity becomes people pleasing.  When a Christian is more concerned with how polished a sermon is rather than how biblically correct it is, the person’s religiosity will become worldly.   It is possible for a Christian to be more religious than faithful.  Then, their religiosity becomes a shallow example for others to follow.  When one’s beliefs become overly concerned with appearances, power, or worldly standards, the resulting religiosity is even despised by God.
 
To increase attendance, a church designed a promotion.  Anyone in the church who attended worship every Sunday for a year was given an award.  Their names would be printed in the bulletin, included in a newsletter article, and each would receive a certificate.  After one year, twenty-three people were given recognition for perfect attendance.  The program was so well received, the church continued the promotion another five years.  At the end of five years, only one man had attended worship every Sunday for all five years.  He received a special award, a certificate, and a credit card worth $25.  Excited about the accomplishment, the pastor asked the man to come forward during worship on “Perfect Attendance Sunday”.  After the winner was given his gifts, the pastor asked him, “Jed, how do you feel about being recognized?”   The man’s response surprised all present.  He said, “I’m glad we had this promotion and it was hard to make it every Sunday for five years. There were times I was tired, running behind, and even under the weather; but I still would not miss worship.  Then again, some of those Sundays I may have been here more in body than in spirit.  My mind wandered and I couldn’t concentrate on much of anything.  I sure am sorry about that.” 
 
Jed’s honest response hinted to a problem with the perfect attendance program.  It was so easy to get caught up winning the award when your heart was not even focused on God.   Some Sundays, Jed cared more about perfect attendance than about the quality of his worship.   Then, Jed’s attendance was concerned more with religiosity for the award than faithfulness to God.  Jed’s honesty hinted at a strong faith.  However, even Jed had to admit that a perfect attendance award didn’t mean he was perfectly in tune with God every Sunday! 
 
By going to worship, being a church member, and giving in the collection plate, it may  look like you are religious.  These actions may cause others to perceive that you are a faithful person.   However, you could easily be religious but not faithful.  You could be religious but not obedient to God.  A person’s religiosity makes them appear to be godly.  A person’s obedience to the will of God confirms that a person is truly faithful.  It is possible to be religious without being obedient and faithful to God.
 
In the days of the prophet Samuel, King Saul was tasked to defeat the Amalekites.  The Amalekites had been attacking Israel for years.  Deuteronomy 25:17-19 describes how the Amalekites would ambush Hebrews making their exile from Egypt.  Exodus 17 speaks to the Amalekites making war against Israel while traversing toward Canaan.  Moses, Joshua, and all the other leaders of that era feared warring Amalekites.  Saul was tasked with defeating them one final time.  
 
When God called Saul to defeat the Amalekites in battle, it was the prophet Samuel who delivered the message.  Along with the plan to defeat the Amalekites, God had one expectation:  Israel was NOT allowed to take any spoils from the battle.  After Saul defeated the Amalekites, he decided to take spoils anyway.  God was angry at Saul’s choices.  Saul was not listening to God.  Saul was not being obedient.  Saul was making sacrifices to God and calling out to God during battle, but Saul was not following through on God’s commands.   While Saul acted religious in his leadership, he was far from obedient to God’s will.
 
At this moment in the history of Israel, Samuel spoke the word of God.  He stated:  “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22).  The prophet Samuel expressed the will of God in saying that Saul’s obedience was lacking.  Saul may have been following through on religious protocol, but he was not being faithful to the will of God.
 
Because Saul was religious but not obedient to the will of God, God rejected Saul as King.  Everything fell apart for Saul a short time later.
 
Be careful that you don’t become more religious than obedient.  If you are more concerned that your prayers sound good than are faithful, you might be more religious than obedient.  If your worship feels more like an obligation than a joyful offering, you might be more religious than obedient.   If your spiritual life seems more like ritual, if singing hymns does not encourage your soul, if doubts are clouding your judgment, you may be more religious than obedient. 
 
Religiosity without obedience is like a cheerleader with no school spirit.  The cheerleader may be shouting out cheers at the game, but she may not look very cheerful while doing it.  AND a cheerleader without spirit isn’t very inspiring to the team.  Do you understand this modern parable?
 

click here to view other january Daily Meditations
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Daily Meditation
  • Past Daily Meditations
    • 2023 Meditations
    • June Meditations >
      • June 2
      • June 5
      • June 7
      • June 9
    • May Meditations >
      • May 2
      • May 4
      • May 6
      • May 9
      • May 12
      • May 14
      • May 16
      • May 18
      • May 20
      • May 22
    • April Meditations >
      • April 2
      • April 4
      • April 7
      • April 9
      • April 11
      • April 14
      • April 16
      • April 19
      • April 21
      • April 23
      • April 25
      • April 27
      • April 29
    • March Meditations >
      • March 1
      • March 16
      • March 18
      • March 21
      • March 23
      • March 25
      • March 27
      • March 29
      • March 31
    • February Meditations >
      • February 1
      • February 3
      • February 5
      • February 7
      • February 9
      • February 11
      • February 14
      • February 16
      • February 18
      • February 20
      • February 22
      • February 24
      • February 26
    • January Meditations >
      • January 1
      • January 4
      • January 6
      • January 9
      • January 11
      • January 13
      • January 15
      • January 17
      • January 20
      • January 22
      • January 24
      • January 26
      • January 28
      • January 30
    • 2022 Daily Meditations >
      • February 2022 Meditatons
      • March 2022 Meditations
      • April 2022 Meditations
      • May 2022 Meditations
      • June 2022 Meditations
      • July 2022 Meditations
      • August 2022 Meditations
      • September 2022 Meditations
      • October 2022 Meditations
      • November 2022 Meditations
      • December 2022 Meditations
    • 2021 Daily Meditations >
      • January 2021 Meditations
      • February 2021 Meditations
      • March 2021 Meditations
      • April 2021 Meditations
      • May 2021 Meditations
      • June 2021 Meditations
      • July 2021 Meditations
      • August 2021 Meditations
      • September 2021 Meditations
      • October 2021 Meditations
      • November 2021 Meditations
      • December 2021 Meditations
    • 2020 Daily Meditations >
      • January 2020 Archive
      • February 2020 Archive
      • March 2020 Archive
      • April 2020 Archive
      • May 2020 Archive
      • June 2020 Archive
      • July 2020 Archive
      • August 2020 Archive
      • September 2020 Archive
      • October 2020 Archive
      • November 2020 Archive
      • December 2020 Archive
    • 2019 Daily Meditations >
      • January 2019 Archive
      • February 2019 Archive
      • March 2019 Archive
      • April 2019 Archive
      • May 2019 Archive
      • June 2019 Archive
      • July 2019 Archive
      • August 2019 Archive
      • September 2019 Archive
      • October 2019 Archive
      • November 2019 Archive
      • December 2019 Archive
    • 2018 Daily Meditations >
      • December 2018 Archive
      • November 2018 Archive
      • October 2018 Archive
      • September 2018 Archive
      • August 2018 Archive
      • July 2018 Archive
      • June 2018 Archive
      • May 2018 Archive
      • April 2018 Archive
      • March 2018 Archive
      • February 2018 Archive
      • January 2018 Archive
    • 2017 Daily Meditations >
      • January 2017 Archive
      • February 2017 Archive
      • March 2017 Archive
      • April 2017 Archive
      • May 2017 Archive
      • June 2017 Archive
      • July 2017 Archive
      • August 2017 Archive
      • September 2017 Archive
      • October 2017 Archive
      • November 2017 Archive
      • December 2017 Archive
  • Special Bible Studies
    • Do you hold a grudge?
    • Have you actually asked for God's help?
    • Sin is the cause of all your problems
    • Amazing Grace!
    • Are you consumed by worry?
    • Is God punishing you?
    • Spiritual Warfare
    • Stubborn?
    • How often do you pray?
    • Have doubts?
    • Who are you listening to?
    • Emotional Black Holes
    • Unanswered prayers?
    • Have you compromised your faith?
    • Life in the pits...
    • Is your life in a rut?
    • Demonic Influences?
    • Let God Ease Your Burdens!
    • Danger of Success
    • Feeling alone
    • Are you broken-hearted?
    • Feel vulnerable?
    • Is God pushing you?
    • Do you lack faith
    • Being Tested
    • Your Place in Heaven
    • Does your past haunt you?
    • Is worldliness creeping into your life?
    • What is acceptable worship?
    • Angry?
    • Spiritual Radar
    • Can you be obedient to God?
    • Courage in the Face of Trials
    • Does Hell Exist
    • A Sin of Omission
    • When Life Gets Crazy
    • When God is Silent
    • Weakness
    • On Death and Dying
    • Feeling Guilty for no Reason?
    • Is wealth damaging your faith?
    • Satans Games
    • Death and Eternal Life
    • Depression
    • Family Problems
    • False Guilt
    • Food Issues
    • A Lack of Forgiveness
    • Frustration
    • Jealousy or Envy
    • Life out of Balance
    • Lying to Yourself or Others
    • Getting Married
    • Missions and Outreach
    • Prayer Life
    • Repentance
    • Sharing the Faith
    • Socialism
    • Stressed out
    • Impatience
    • Too Hard on Yourself
  • Uplifting Video for the Day
  • Videos for Reflection
    • Videos for Reflection 2
    • Videos for Reflection 3
    • Videos for Reflection 4
    • Videos for Reflection 5
    • Videos for Reflection 6
    • Videos for Reflection 7
    • Videos for Reflection 8
    • Videos for Reflection 9
    • Videos for Reflection 10
    • Videos for Reflection 11
    • Videos for Reflection 12
    • Videos for Reflection 13
    • Videos for Reflection 14
    • Videos for Reflection 15
    • Videos for Reflection 16
  • COVID Vaccine
  • Standing up for God
    • Jatya
    • Archbishop Mouche
    • Pastor Andrew Brunson
    • Our Coptic Christian Friends
    • Petr Jasek
  • Bible Challenge Gateway
  • Faith Issues in the Modern World
    • Preacher Arrested for Protesting Pride Event
    • Christians Attacked by ISIS in Mozambique
    • The Pope Changes Lord's Prayer
    • Museum of the Bible Washington DC USA
    • Persecution at All-Time High
    • Suicide Bombing in Pakistan Christian Church
    • Attack by Muslim terrorists against Egyptian Church
    • Underground Christians in China
    • More Persecution of Chinese Christians
    • The Growing Church in Iran
    • Christian Parenting Failing God
  • Video Studies
    • Video Bible Study Introduction
    • Prayer in the Bible
    • Faith Hebrews 11
  • Walls of Inspiration
    • Wall of Inspiration 1
    • Wall of Inspiration 2
    • Wall of Inspiration 3
    • Wall of Inspiration 4
    • Wall of Inspiration 5
    • Wall of Inspiration 6
    • Wall of Inspiration 7
    • Wall of Inspiration 8
    • Wall of Inspiration 9
    • Wall of Inspiration 10
    • Wall of Inspiration 11
    • Wall of Inspiration 12
    • Wall of Inspiration 13
    • Wall of Inspiration 14
    • Wall of Inspiration 15
    • Wall of Inspiration 16
    • Wall of Inspiration 17
    • Wall of Inspiration 18
    • Wall of Inspiration 19
    • Wall of Inspiration 20
    • Wall of Inspiration 21
  • Bible Helps
  • Stories of God's Power
  • Comments
  • Bible Challenge Badge Earners
  • Yearly Meditations Template