If I obey, what do I get? Why Obedience is better than sacrifice

I’ve often heard that obedience is better than sacrifice. That’s what the Bible says — or so I was told (I mean, since then I’ve read it too… but it’s also a phrase folks love to quote).

But what do I get if I obey? Like — what’s in it for me? That’s a legit question, right? If it’s better than sacrifice, there must be a reason… so what’s the grand prize?

One thing I love about God is that when you have questions — He answers! In my experience, He hasn’t gotten upset about the questions. In fact, when I’ve asked things of Him — you know, for clarity and understanding — I’ve felt Him draw near all the more.

It probably matters why we’re asking, too. Are we being respectful? Are we reverencing God as we inquire of Him? I’d like to think that matters.

But anywho —

With this specific question, God met me where I was. Holy Spirit revealed to me the “grand prize.”

The ultimate prize we all desire when we become followers of Christ: a true, deep, one-of-a-kind, uniquely crafted relationship with the Triune God.

We get revelation.We get peace that no one could possibly understand.We get a whole new outlook on life.We get to commune with Someone bigger and greater than anything we’ve ever known — greater than anything that exists — because He is the Creator of it all.

I don’t know if that means anything to you, but it means everything to me.

Let’s go a little deeper into what God showed me. See — God already loves us. He loves us so deeply that He gave His only begotten Son. The Son who embodies love itself.

So when we obey — not that we could ever repay what was given to us — we get to give back all that we are, simply because we love Him.

We obey as a great big THANK YOU.

THANK YOU for choosing me!

THANK YOU for loving me!

THANK YOU for keeping me!

THANK YOU!

Obedience is a way for us to say — I love YOU!

When we sacrifice, we try to control how much that love is displayed. We say things like, “I’ll give this much but not that much,” or “I’ll go here but not there.” We take on a Jonah mindset, as if we’re bigger than God — wild, right!?

Sacrifice restricts the love we show and places parameters where they don’t need to be. They absolutely shouldn’t be there. I mean honestly — how does that even make sense when God, who loves us so deeply, does it transparently and unconditionally?

So when we obey, we say yes to any and all that God asks of us simply because we love Him. Because we trust Him. Because we desire what He desires for us. Because He’s God — our Creator.

Because we want to wholeheartedly, without hesitation, say — I love YOU and THANK YOU!

To sum it all up — the grand prize is this: the opportunity to dote on the Father who already chose to dote on us daily, unconditionally.

We get to give everything we have back to Him. After all, it’s His anyway.

And so yes, Lord — I’ll obey.

AKA: I love YOU!

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