Ouvir e obedecer - Lucas: 5:1-11

One of the greatest desires of all parents is that, whenever they give an order, their child immediately responds: "Yes, Dad"; "Yes, Mom," and immediately does what they were told. But that's not always how it happens. There are usually questions, objections, resistance, deliberate disobedience, tension, conflict, tears, shouting, and exhaustion. That task that should take two minutes turns into thirty. Our children won't understand, nor do they have to understand, all the reasons for our orders; they just need to obey. Why is it so difficult? Why is it so difficult for them to understand that "obeying is always better"? We teach that "disobedience is the ruin of your bones"; "disobedience breaks communion"; "disobedience only brings sadness." But our beautiful phrases don't have much effect, and disobedience remains ingrained in their hearts. Why do they continue to be disobedient? Why do we also remain disobedient? We too are children, we too walk in disobedience, and we too reap the consequences of our own disobedience. Our Father clearly tells us that He requires "obedience and not sacrifice" (1 Samuel 15:22), but we insist on offering external sacrifices and neglecting the core of the law: to submit completely to God in obedience. Sometimes, what God demands of us is inconceivable, counterintuitive, and difficult. So we question, camouflage, and disobey. The invitation of today's sermon is very simple: we must learn to listen and obey. We must place ourselves before the Word of God, listen to it with faith, and obey it, even if it goes against our instincts, our preferences, and our comfort. As we walk in obedience, we will see that eternal joy will enter our hearts, for "obedience is better than sacrifice."