Pray the word with David Platt as a resource from Radical.net.

All over 1 Samuel chapter 15 of claims to be worshiping God, offering sacrifices before

God, even some of the things Saul is doing. But what's happening is in direct disobedience to God.

The danger here that we see in 1 Samuel chapter 15 is that religion,

offering sacrifices, even participating in supposed worship is a mask, can be a mask for disobedience.

Can I say that one more time? Like religion and religious observances, worship participation

even can be a mask to cover up disobedience in our lives. And God is saying here in his word

to obey is better than sacrifice. He says to his people over and over again in the Old Testament,

you bring your offerings and your sacrifices, your songs. I'm not asked for these things,

I've asked for your hearts and your lives and obedience to me. And if we're not careful,

any one of us can get caught up in doing religious things while covering up for disobedience

to God's word in our lives. So we all need to pray. God help us. Help us to give to you in

worship what you have asked the obedience of our hearts. God help us to hear your word and to

obey your word. Hear your voice and obey your voice. We pray that you would be glorified in our

obeying your voice. God, we pray you would keep all of us from at any point getting caught up

in practicing religion and going to church and participating in this or that activity while

disobeying you and your word in our lives. God help us to continually confess our sins and walk

in your grace. Listening to your voice, your word and checking our hearts, our thoughts, our

desires, our words through the filter of your word, our actions, our interactions with other

people through the filter of your word that we might obey your word. Keep us from deceiving ourselves

into thinking. We are honoring you while we are actually disobeying you. God help us. We pray by

your grace, by the power of Jesus' love and work in our hearts. God help us to live in such a way

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