The Sin of Rebellion

# 216 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 15:23 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." (1 Sam 15:23) This is one of those passages that I feel is useful to break down into language you and I can understand. Words like, “witchcraft, iniquity, and idolatry,” are often passed over when we read scripture. We read them, they register in our brain, but we don't consider what they mean to us in our own day and age. The sins of Saul cost him dearly and it would be wise for us to learn from them, and if we are guilty of them, then we must confess them as sin, and flee from them. The first sin mentioned is rebellion. What is rebellion? Simply stated it is resisting authority to the point of wanting to be your own authority. It is the audacity of a anyone making themselves out to be God. This was the sin of Satan. He wanted to be his own authority. It was the temptation he placed before Eve in Ge 3:5 "you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Which is another way of saying, “you will determine what is right and what is wrong. You will be the authority.”) It was the prevailing sin of the people in the book of Judges where, “every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Ju 21:25) and the Holy Spirit warned us in 2Ti 4:3, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” Beware the sin of rebellion beloved. Beware of cafeteria Christianity, where you pick and choose what you will obey and what you will believe. You are a rebel. Beware of using excuses like Saul did, “others are doing it,” or “I'm not all that bad,” Every act of willful disobedience is an act of rebellion against God. The solution? Take your rebellion to the cross! Confess your sins, turn from them immediately and purpose in your heart to yield to the authority of God and His Word in all things.