Partial obedience v wholehearted commitment

“To obey is better than sacrifice”

Are you paying the price for your partial obedience? Saying a wholehearted ‘yes’ to the next season will also require you to say a lot of ‘no’s’.

Going all in

Right now, I am feeling a strong sense of the importance of decisiveness.

As I gain clarity during this transition to the next season, I feel a growing need for single-mindedness and focus.

The things of old, the failures, wounds and even the past successes, can not be carried past the threshold and into the future.

A clear line has been drawn between the old and the new, and all of the baggage must be left behind.

In this process, I have an increased awareness of my own ability to want to negotiate, reconcile or water down a clear and direct word from God.

I’m often happy to say ‘yes’ to His plan, but I still want to be able to say ‘yes’ to all of my own plans as well.

I want to hedge my bets and keep my options open.

Sadly, we believe a cultural lie that we can, and are entitled to, ‘have it all’.

But I’m learning this is not how the kingdom of God works.

To hear is to obey

Most would agree that a key to a successful Christian life is to find out the will of God and then do it.

Last week I wrote about obedience as the test of lordship.

But what is obedience?

In a Hebrew context, the word translates to ‘shama’ which when simply defined means ‘to hear is to obey’, and the broader thought is to trust, respond and walk in alignment with God.

The problem: We like to obey on our own terms.

The stumbling block of partial obedience

Our ‘yes’ isn’t enough. Biblical precedent reveals that God is seeking a complete and wholehearted response to his instruction.

In 1 Samuel 15, God famously gives Saul the instruction to completely wipe out the Amalekites, including every living thing and every possession.

But Saul gave himself, and his people, some wiggle room.

'But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.' - I Samuel 15:9

The chapter goes on to say that Saul believed that he’d done enough to obey the Lord, gave himself a pat on the back for a job well done, then tried to blame others, and then tried to justify his decision.

However Saul’s full obedience was required without exception, even more than his offerings and sacrifices, and his failure would cost him his kingdom.

'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. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord , He also has rejected you from being king.”' - I Samuel 15:22-23

It is clear that God sees partial obedience as disobedience.

And if we’re honest, we’ll see ourselves in this story and it will cause us to reflect - has my partial obedience prevented me from stepping in to the fullness of my calling?

What partial obedience looks like

This problem is too real, and too common.

Hannah and I can give you plenty of examples from our own lives over the years where we have been partially obedient to the word of the Lord (and maybe you can identify with one or two):

• Being told to quit your job and start a business. You start your business as a side hustle, but don’t quit your job.

• Being told to change up your kids’ schooling. Instead, you put it off for a year.

• Being told to cut off an unhealthy relationship. Instead, you try to reduce or manage your personal connection.

• You’re told to speak up and give direct feedback. Instead, you water down the message.

• You have financial needs that God said he’d provide for. Instead of waiting, you use your credit card.

• You have a big dream, but are told to wait for the appointed time. Instead, you launch right away.

It is convicting when written down in black and white.

And sadly, I could go on!

The problem with partial obedience

If you’re believing that obedience is all about following rules, you’re missing the point.

Far more than boxing ticking, God is seeking hearts that are fully yielded, aligned and connected to Him.

Partial obedience is double-mindedness (James 1:8) and reveals our trust in sources other than God.

I believe it is rooted in:

1. Pride. Looking at the example of Saul, we see that pride completely blinds us to the truth and it causes us to be self-righteous.

2. Rebellion. Again, God called out Saul’s rebellion ‘as the sin of witchcraft’.

3. Unbelief. We want to keep our own plans and safety net, because the truth is we don’t trust God and his plan. 'And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.' - Hebrews 3:18-19

4. Fear. Flowing out of unbelief is fear - we fear failure and discomfort, and as orphans we believe a lie that we are really on our own and the Father will not come through for us.

What does full, whole-hearted obedience look like?

For the ultimate example, we must look to the life of Jesus.

With the cross before Him, Jesus didn’t opt out even after the brutal physical, psychological and spiritual torture. Jesus didn’t stop halfway on the road to Calvary and say ‘that’ll do’.

'And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.' - Philippians 2:8

We’re called to respond to the instruction, line by line.

Even if we don’t understand it.

Even if it comes at a cost.

It is a lifestyle of full trust, reliance and complete dependence.

It is the abandoning of self-preservation.

And it will certainly mean that personal ambitions will need to be placed on the altar, and maybe even some promises we’ve been given by God himself will need to be put on the shelf.

The beauty and empowerment of obedience

Recognise that full obedience is beautiful, not controlling or burdensome.

When we put our fears aside, we see it is the key to enter into the fullness of the perfect will of God, and there is no greater place to be.

When Jesus ministered to the woman at the well, and then those that came to Him from her city, it was doing the will of God that sustained Him.

'But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. ' - John 4:32-34

When we are truly ‘all in’ we receive a supernatural grace to do what He’s asking of us, even the hard things, even the impossible.

But the time for change is now.

This is not a time to diversify and de-risk by opening up our options.

It is a time to sit with the Holy Spirit and closely examine our lives, identify the areas where we are wavering, repent and respond with decisiveness and complete commitment - stepping into the next season unencumbered by our own clutter.

Actions

• Read 1 Samuel 15

• Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas of your life where you are operating in partial obedience, and repent

• Ask Him for instruction and to help you make a complete response in full obedience

Prayer

This prayer, or one like it, might help your process:

Holy Spirit,

I acknowledge you as God with me on earth, given to me by my saviour Jesus to lead me and guide me in all of my ways.

I acknowledge that while I have said ‘yes’ to some of your instructions and plans for my life, I have not always said ‘no’ to that which was not from you. I repent, and come back into full alignment with your plans and purposes for my life.

I give you permission to identify any blind spots, barriers and stumbling blocks that prevent me from following you completely.

I thank you that through Jesus you not only forgive me, but work to redeem my mistakes and set me back on the path of purpose.

Help me to ‘shama’, to hear and obey, fully and completely.

Thank you for the supernatural joy and grace that comes with a life fully given over to your perfect will, where Jesus gets all the glory.

In the name of Jesus I pray,

Amen

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