20 March | Teens
«So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.”» 1 Samuel 15:22
Let’s be honest... obeying isn’t always easy, especially when we have to do something we don’t want to. But know that obedience is very important to God. In 1 Samuel 15:22, we learn that “obeying God is better than offering sacrifices”. This means that God values our willingness to follow His instructions more than great acts we do to impress.
Sometimes our parents or teachers ask us to do things that we don’t understand or even like. These can be simple things, like taking a shower, brushing our teeth, doing our homework or even stopping playing to go to bed. These moments are opportunities to practice obedience. When we obey, we are showing our humility and dependence on our parents, adults or even God, recognizing that we have a lot to learn. After all, God knows the best way for us, even when we don’t fully understand. In fact, obedience is linked to trust. By obeying God, we also show that we trust him to know what is best for us.
Take Action
Challenge of the Day: Be totally obedient. Try to go a whole day without questioning your parents’ and teachers’ requests. Do everything they ask with a willing and joyful heart. At the end of the day, reflect on the experience. Was it difficult? Did you learn anything new about obeying? Remember, every act of obedience is a step towards growing in dependence on our God.