We often believe that learning through experience makes us wiser—but God’s Word reminds us that we were never meant to learn by experience alone, but by faith.

“But Samuel replied: ‘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 (NIV)

Think about it like this: when you were a child, your parents told you, “Don’t touch the stove—it’s hot.” But for many of us, it wasn’t until we touched it and got burned that we truly believed them. The burn wasn’t necessary—the warning was enough.

If we had faith in their words and obeyed, we wouldn’t carry those scars.

The same is true with God. His Word isn’t just to be read—it’s to be trusted. Obedience protects us. It keeps us from the burn marks of sin and the consequences of rebellion. Sacrifice might come after the fall, but obedience can keep us from falling in the first place.

God doesn’t desire burnt offerings; He desires hearts that trust Him enough to obey Him—even when it doesn’t make sense. Because true faith doesn’t say, “Let me see for myself.” True faith says, “If You said it, Lord, that’s enough.”

Let’s walk today not in reaction to our past burns, but in proactive obedience to the God who speaks truth before we ever touch the fire.

Rev. Carlos Figueroa