The Peril of Partial Obedience | 1 Samuel 15:4-9

Vince Miller Podcast

Are you doing what God said but not following through all the way?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

This week, we are in 1 Samuel 15. I've titled this chapter "The Consequences of Disobedience."

So far in this chapter, Saul has been given the command of God through Samuel to wipe out the Amalekites for the long contention with the Israelites. Let's see how King Saul handles that in verses 4-9:

So Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand men on foot, and ten thousand men of Judah. And Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley. Then Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart; go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. And Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt. And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and devoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction. — 1 Samuel 15:4-9

We start with a picture of a massive force of 210,000 Israelite soldiers who swept over a large landmass, ending in a devastating defeat of the Amalekites. But after it is all said and done, King Saul spares Agag and some of the best cattle.

This is called self-serving selective obedience.

It's what we do when we know what God told us to do, but we don't follow all the way through with what he told us to do.

There have been plenty of times in my life when I know what God wants me to do, but I do it half-heartedly, with a bad attitude, or incompletely. This is because I know what God wants me to do, but I really don't want to do it, and everyone can see that. Then, right in the middle of "doing it," I turn to serve myself because I cannot resist my selfish desires that are not being met.

We have all done this.

But note that this same act was King Saul's final undoing. This moment left a giant black mark on his leadership legacy.

Today, repent of any self-serving selective obedience. Confess it and give it up. Start getting your heart to work in harmony with what God wants you to do. Don't do the Christian life half-heartedly. Do it with all your heart and rid yourself of self-serving selective obedience.

God, I give you the secret parts of my heart that selfishly do what I want. Those places, desires, and intentions where I pretend to be obedient but am not fully obedient. Purify those places and desires so my obedience will be true, whole, and acceptable to you. Amen.

#FullObedience, #FaithfulLiving, #NoHalfMeasures

Ask This:

1. In what areas of your life have you been tempted to obey God partially or with a half-hearted attitude? How can you commit to fully following through on His commands?
2. How might selective obedience be impacting your spiritual growth or relationships? What steps can you take today to align your actions with God's will completely?

Do This:

Stop all self-serving selective obedience.

Pray This:

God, I give you the secret parts of my heart that selfishly do what I want. Those places, desires, and intentions where I pretend to be obedient but am not fully obedient. Purify those places and desires so my obedience will be true, whole, and acceptable to you. Amen.

Play This:

Yes (Obedience).