I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Wednesday morning, the 10th of April, 2024, and this is your friend Angus Buchan with a thought for today.

We start in 1 Samuel 15:22, in the Old Testament, 

”Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,...”  

Then we go to the last book in the Bible, the Book of Revelation 2:4-5. The Lord Jesus says: 

”Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”

Wow, obedience is better than sacrifice. In other words, to do as you are told, is better than continually saying, “I’m sorry.” The Lord is requiring obedience from us this morning. This scripture in Revelation 2, is one of the hallmarks in the ministry at Shalom. I was up at the Umkuzi game reserve in Northern Kwazulu-Natal, having a break with my dear wife, Jill. I was sitting there early in the morning having my quiet time, just like I’m doing right now. I thought I was doing a great job for the Lord, but you see, a good idea is not always a God idea. What are you doing at this time as you are listening to this message? Are you obeying the Lord or are you doing something you think the Lord would like you to do?

This scripture was very relevant in my life. The Lord says, ”I see all the good things you are doing but you have forsaken your first love.” That is your relationship with Jesus Christ. “You are so busy with the work of the Lord, that you haven’t got time for Me,” the Lord was saying to me. So I was listening, I was devastated actually. I felt the Lord saying, “Go home, cancel everything and then I will speak to you.” I did exactly that. 

You know something folks? The Holy Spirit impressed upon me to start mentoring young men because we are living in a fatherless generation. I cancelled every single appointment and then I started to mentor young men. I thought maybe two or three and I really mean that. You know by the year 2010 which was seven years after the Lord had spoken to me, we saw no less than four hundred and fifty thousand men on this farm.

Obedience is better than sacrifice. Let’s start doing what the Lord has told us to do and not what we think He’s told us to do. “How do we do that, Angus?”, by spending time quietly in His presence. 

Jesus bless you and goodbye.