Day Three 1 Samuel 15:24
“Then Saul admitted to Samuel, ‘Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the Lord’s command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded.’” – 1 Samuel 15:24 (NLT)
Discover
1. What does Saul admit to Samuel?
2. Why did Saul disobey Samuel and ultimately the Lord’s command?
3. Whose opinions was Saul elevating above how God saw him?
Respond
In our insecurities, we can easily care more about how other people view us rather than how God views us. Here we see Saul fall into disobedience because of his fear of man. He didn’t want to disappoint the people by killing the best of the livestock, so he disobeyed the Lord’s instructions while presenting it as a sacrifice – a noble act for God. God desires that we follow His commands whole-heartedly, setting aside any desires to please others or ourselves so we can honor and obey Him alone. Is there any area of your life in which you let your pride and insecurity keep you from faithful and genuine obedience? Ask God to show you how you can trade pride for humility and people-pleasing for joy in obedience.
For Further Reading: You Cannot Please God and People
For Families with Kids at Home
Read 1 Samuel 15:24 as a family and talk about when you have felt pressured to please others, instead of following Jesus whole-heartedly.
*TPCC does not necessarily endorse all For Further Reading/Learning sources. They are simply meant to be a helpful tool.