This sermon explores the theme of “Being Obedient to the Call” by contrasting two powerful Biblical figures—King Saul in 1 Samuel, who faced the consequences of partial obedience, and Mary in Luke, who received the ultimate blessing through total surrender.
The message challenges us to understand that God values the posture of our heart (humble obedience) over the performance of our rituals (outward religious acts).
I. The Priority of Obedience: The Lesson of Saul (1 Samuel 15:22)
The foundation of the message is drawn from Samuel’s rebuke to King Saul:
“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.” (1 Samuel 15:22)
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Partial Obedience is Disobedience: God commanded Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites and all their livestock. Saul spared the king and the best of the animals, claiming he would use them for a sacrifice to the Lord.
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Heart Over Ritual: Samuel’s statement cuts through the pretense. God was not interested in Saul’s religious show (sacrifice) after he had clearly rejected God’s direct command (obedience). We are warned against attempting to substitute outward acts (volunteering, giving, attending) for inward surrender to God’s specific call or command in our lives.
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The Point: True love for God is demonstrated by immediate and complete obedience. When God calls you to do something, anything less than full compliance is rejection of His Word.
II. The Posture of Obedience: The Example of Mary (Luke 1:36–38)
In stark contrast, Mary exemplifies the right heart posture when faced with an unprecedented divine call.
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The Unbelievable Call (Luke 1:36–37): The angel Gabriel tells Mary she will conceive the Son of God by the Holy Spirit. As confirmation, the angel reveals that Mary’s elderly, barren relative, Elizabeth, is also pregnant. The message is clear: “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
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Mary’s Response (Luke 1:38): Mary doesn’t debate, delay, or demand a different plan. Her reply is the perfect model of obedience to the call: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
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Servant, Not Strategist: Mary immediately identifies herself as the servant (or “bond-slave”) of the Lord. She places her own reputation, social standing, and future plans completely on the altar, accepting the call and its potential consequences.
III. The Privilege of Obedience: Mary’s Song (Luke 1:46–55)
Mary’s subsequent song of praise, the Magnificat, reveals the incredible blessing that flows from a life of surrender.
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Joy in Humility: Mary begins by exalting God for looking upon her “humble estate” (Luke 1:48). Her obedience didn’t lead to self-glory but to a deep, joyful recognition of God’s power and grace working through her weakness.
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The God of Reversal: Her song celebrates God as the one who consistently reverses the world’s power structures: bringing down the mighty and exalting the humble; filling the hungry and sending the rich away empty. Mary understood that her obedience was part of God’s great plan to bless the entire world.
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Obedience Leads to Praise: Mary’s immediate response to confirmation was not worry, but worship. When we obey God’s call, no matter how daunting, we position ourselves to see God’s power at work, which inevitably leads to a deep, overflowing praise in our souls.
Conclusion
The sermon concludes with the challenge: Will we follow Saul’s example of partial, self-serving compliance, or Mary’s example of humble, total surrender? Our Heavenly Father desires our heartfelt submission over our half-hearted effort. When we hear His call—to serve, to forgive, to sacrifice, or to step out in faith—may we respond like Mary: “Let it be to me according to your word.”