Thoughts and Sentiments of a renewing mind: Obedience and being Faithful in little things

End-of-Year Sermon: “Faithful in the Small, Obedient in Love”

Key Scriptures

“To obey is better than sacrifice.” — 1 Samuel 15:22
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” — Luke 16:10
“If you love Me, keep My commands.” — John 14:15

Opening

As we come to the end of the year, many of us look back and ask honest questions:

Did I do enough?
Did I give enough?
Did I serve enough?

We often measure our year by what we sacrificed — time, money, effort, pain.
But God measures our year differently.

God asks one central question:

Did you obey Me?

Not perfectly.
Not loudly.
Not impressively.

But faithfully.

1. Obedience Over Sacrifice

“To obey is better than sacrifice.” — 1 Samuel 15:22

This verse was spoken to King Saul, a man who did religious things but disobeyed God’s clear instruction.

Saul sacrificed animals.
God wanted obedience.

This reveals a hard truth:
👉 You can be busy for God and still be disobedient to God.

Sacrifice is often visible.
Obedience is often quiet.

Sacrifice impresses people.
Obedience pleases God.

At the end of the year, God is not asking:

How much did you give?
How much did you do?
How spiritual did you look?

He is asking:
Did you listen to My voice and follow it?

Sometimes obedience costs less than sacrifice —
but it costs our will.

2. Faithful in the Small Things

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” — Luke 16:10

We often think:
“When God gives me more, I’ll be faithful.”

But Jesus says:
Faithfulness comes before increase, not after it.

God watches:

How you speak when no one is listening
How you forgive when it’s hard
How you pray when answers are delayed
How you obey when it feels insignificant

Small obedience is never small to God.

A private decision to stay pure
A quiet choice to forgive
A hidden act of integrity
A daily habit of prayer

These are the seeds God multiplies.

As this year ends, God may not be asking you to do more —
He may be asking you to be faithful where you already are.

3. Obedience Is the Language of Love

“If you love Me, keep My commands.” — John 14:15

Jesus does not say:
“If you love Me, feel strongly about Me.”
“If you love Me, talk loudly about Me.”

He says:
“If you love Me, obey Me.”

Obedience is not legalism.
Obedience is relationship.

We obey not to earn love —
we obey because we are loved.

Just as a child listens to a loving parent,
we listen to God because we trust His heart.

At the end of the year, love for God is not proven by emotion alone,
but by alignment.

Are my choices aligned with His Word?
Is my life aligned with His will?
Is my heart aligned with His voice?

4. A Year-End Reflection

As this year closes, let us reflect honestly:

Where did God ask me to obey, and I delayed?
Where did I replace obedience with excuses?
Where did I offer sacrifice instead of surrender?

The good news:
👉 God is not looking to condemn you — He is calling you forward.

Every new year begins with grace.
Every step of obedience invites fresh trust.
Every small “yes” prepares you for greater things.

Conclusion: A Call to Simple Obedience

As we step into a new year, let our prayer be simple:

“Lord, help me obey You — not perfectly, but sincerely.”

Not louder faith.
Not busier faith.
But obedient faith.

Because:

Obedience is better than sacrifice
Faithfulness in little leads to much
And love is proven by obedience

May we enter the new year not asking,
“What can I give God?”

But asking,
“Lord, what are You asking me to obey?”

“The Obedient Ones God Is Looking For”

End-of-Year Prophetic & Pastoral Teaching

Scriptures
1 Samuel 15:22 • Luke 16:10 • John 14:15

Opening: A Prophetic Pause

As this year comes to a close, I sense the Lord calling His people to pause.

Not to rush into resolutions.
Not to measure achievements.
But to listen.

This is not a season where God is asking for more noise, more effort, or more sacrifice.

This is a season where the Lord is asking a very simple question:

“Did you obey Me?”

The Lord says:
“I am not reviewing your activity; I am weighing your obedience.”

1. Obedience Reveals the Heart

“To obey is better than sacrifice.” — 1 Samuel 15:22

This was spoken to Saul—a man who outwardly appeared obedient, yet inwardly resisted God’s voice.

Saul brought a sacrifice God did not ask for
to cover disobedience God had already seen.

Here is a teaching truth we must understand:

👉 God is not moved by what we offer if our hearts refuse alignment.

Sacrifice can be emotional.
Sacrifice can be dramatic.
But obedience is precise.

Obedience requires hearing.
Obedience requires humility.
Obedience requires surrender.

The Lord is saying to His people:
“Stop offering Me what I did not ask for while withholding what I did.”

This year, some of us sacrificed heavily—
but disobeyed quietly.

And the Lord, in His mercy, is not rebuking us—
He is calling us back into alignment.

2. God Trains Through the Small

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” — Luke 16:10

We often pray for expansion, promotion, and influence.

But God teaches us:
Increase follows faithfulness, not desire.

The Lord watches the hidden places:

How you handle correction
How you respond when unseen
How you obey when there is no reward
How you treat what feels insignificant

Prophetically, hear this:
👉 Your next season is being decided by your current obedience.

Small obedience is training.
Hidden obedience is preparation.
Delayed obedience is still disobedience.

The Lord says:
“If you will be faithful in the unseen, I will entrust you with what is seen.”

3. Obedience Is Not Legalism — It Is Love

“If you love Me, keep My commands.” — John 14:15

Jesus does not separate love from obedience.
He unites them.

Obedience is not about control.
Obedience is about trust.

When we obey God, we are saying:
“I believe Your wisdom is greater than mine.”

Teaching truth:
👉 Grace empowers obedience; it does not excuse disobedience.

We do not obey to be loved.
We obey because we are loved.

The Lord is saying:
“I am not asking for perfection. I am asking for surrender.”

4. A Pastoral Moment of Reflection

As shepherds, we must guide people to reflect honestly:

Where did God speak, and I delayed?
Where did I rationalize instead of repent?
Where did I substitute effort for obedience?

There is no condemnation here.
Only invitation.

The Lord says:
“Return to the last instruction I gave you.”

Obedience restores clarity.
Obedience restores peace.
Obedience restores direction.

5. A Prophetic Charge for the New Year

As we step into a new year, hear the word of the Lord:

“I am raising a people who obey quickly, walk humbly, and listen closely.”

Not impressive Christians.
Not noisy Christians.
But obedient disciples.

This will be the year where:

Quiet obedience outweighs public sacrifice
Faithfulness matters more than visibility
Love is proven through alignment

Conclusion: A Simple Prayer

Let this be our prayer as the year ends:

“Lord, tune my ears to Your voice.
Strengthen my heart to obey.
Teach me to love You through surrender.”