FCS Blog

OBEDIENCE

AT THE HEART OF OUR MISSION AT FCS, WE STRIVE TO PARTNER WITH PARENTS IN "TRAINING UP A
CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO." WHILE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IS ESSENTIAL, OUR ULTIMATE
GOAL IS TO NURTURE HEARTS THAT ARE SENSITIVE TO THE VOICE OF GOD.
OBEDIENCE IS AT THE HEART OF OUR WALK WITH THE LORD. WE SEE THIS DEPICTED IN ISRAEL’S
FIRST KING, SAUL. IT IS A STORY THAT CARRIES A PROFOUND MESSAGE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND
FAMILIES TODAY: GOD DESIRES OUR HEARTS MORE THAN OUR RITUALS.
IN 1 SAMUEL 15, KING SAUL WAS GIVEN SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS BY GOD. HOWEVER, SAUL DECIDED
TO MAKE A FEW "ADJUSTMENTS,
" SAVING THE BEST LIVESTOCK UNDER THE PRETENSE OF DEVOTION. WHEN THE PROPHET SAMUEL CONFRONTED HIM, SAUL’S EXCUSE SOUNDED REMARKABLY SPIRITUAL:
“THE SOLDIERS TOOK SHEEP AND CATTLE... TO SACRIFICE THEM TO THE LORD YOUR GOD.”
TO THE WORLD, SAUL’S PLAN SEEMED REASONABLE. WHY DESTROY RESOURCES WHEN YOU CAN USE
THEM FOR A RELIGIOUS CEREMONY? BUT SAUL’S "SACRIFICE" WAS ACTUALLY DISOBEDIENCE TO THE

ONE WHO HAD PLACED HIM ON THE THRONE.

SAMUEL’S RESPONSE REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST CENTRAL TRUTHS IN SCRIPTURE:
"DOES THE LORD DELIGHT IN BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES AS MUCH AS IN OBEYING THE
LORD? TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE, AND TO HEED IS BETTER THAN THE FAT OF RAMS." — 1

SAMUEL 15:22

HERE IS WHAT WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO TAKE TO HEART:

GOD WANTS YOUR HEART: WE CAN CHECK ALL THE BOXES—ATTENDING CHAPEL, MEMORIZING
VERSES, AND DOING GOOD DEEDS—BUT IF WE ARE FOSTERING A SPIRIT OF "SELECTIVE OBEDIENCE,
"

WE MISS THE POINT.

TRUST OVER LOGIC: OBEDIENCE IS AN ACT OF TRUST. WHEN WE FOLLOW GOD EVEN WHEN IT
DOESN'T MAKE "SENSE" TO US, WE DECLARE THAT HIS WISDOM IS GREATER THAN OUR OWN.
OBEDIENCE SAYS, I LOVE YOU, LORD (JOHN 14:15). I TRUST YOU, LORD, I HONOR YOU, LORD. WHAT

YOU THINK, MATTERS MORE THAN WHAT ANYONE ELSE THINKS.

AS WE MOVE CLOSER TO THE END OF ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR, LET’S ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER
THAT GOD ISN'T LOOKING FOR PERFECT PERFORMANCE OR FLASHY DISPLAYS. HE IS LOOKING FOR A

HEART THAT SIMPLY SAYS,
"YES, LORD."
BLESSINGS,
RENEE PERKINS