Obedience Over Outcome

Daily Scripture Threshing for Today — Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Today’s Text: 1 Samuel 15:10–23

Key Verse: “And Samuel said, Hath 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 hearken than the fat of rams.” — 1 Samuel 15:22 (KJV)

Today, we are again blessed with a powerful theme that resonates deeply with waxing strong and yielded living in Christ. King Saul found himself at odds with God's command to utterly destroy the Amalekites and their livestock. Despite the clear directive, he chose to spare the king and the best of the livestock, rationalizing his actions as a form of worship to God. But God values obedience over religious rituals and external actions. True devotion to God is not about going through motions of worship, but aligning our hearts and actions with His Word.

Heaven values obedience more than results. In today's world, outcomes define success—but in God’s kingdom and agenda, only obedience to fivine orders defines faithfulness. Saul’s downfall was not his failure to conquer but his refusal to comply. He did almost everything God said. But, friends, partial obedience is still disobedience. God delights in hearts that obey even when they do not understand.

Obedience positions us for divine endorsement. Disobedience cost King Saul his divine endorsement. Be careful especially with result. Things may look ending well but if they are underguarded with failure to obey God's command, they will lead to God's rejection; just like God rejected Saul as king, and his kingdom was torn from him. He was told: "Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you as king" (1 Samuel 15:23).

Disobedience leads to lost opportunities and lost favor with God. But when we choose to obey God fully, we surrender control of outcomes to the One who controls all things. Faith obeys not because it sees results, but because it trusts the Revealer of truth. Many people lose divine direction by negotiating with God’s instructions. You cannot walk in blessing and bargain in obedience.

Sometimes, obedience will not make sense in the moment—it may cost more, hurt longer, or seem slower—but its end is always glorious. Every act of obedience is a seed that guarantees a harvest of peace, provision, and purpose. When outcomes are unpredictable, let obedience remain non-negotiable. Faithfulness to God's commands is more important than achieving specific, successful results.

Action Steps: Identify areas where you've prioritized outcomes over obedience to God. Ask yourself: Are there "Agag" moments in my life where I've compromised God's commands? Repent and surrender any areas of disobedience. Align your actions with God's Word, even if outcomes are uncertain. Before acting today, pause and pray for grace to value obedience over personal preferences or outcomes. Ask: “Lord, am I obeying Your word or following my will?” Then choose obedience, even when it costs.

Quote for the Day: “God blesses not the brilliant, but the obedient.” — (Simon Olatunji #quotablequote)

Let Us Pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for calling me to obedience, not performance. Deliver me from selective surrender and empower me to trust You even when I don’t see the end. Help me obey promptly, completely, and joyfully. May my obedience today bring glory to Your name—in Jesus’s name, Amen.

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Thank you for threshing the Word with me today. For further study on this topic, please read: Deuteronomy 28:1–2; John 14:23; James 1:22–25.

With love and prayers,

Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

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