Obedience

Say not, I am a child:
for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee,
and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

God asks for obedience above all else. We give obedience because of love – He loves us, and we return His love. God does not ask for sacrifice, neither the literal sacrifice of the Old Testament nor our modern promises to give something up for Him. There are many things we give because we love and obey God: worship, prayer, tithes, reverence, service. But when we obey, we give all these and more.

The people of Samaria worshiped God, but they were rejected by God. Worship alone was not sufficient because they also worshiped other gods, and did not obey the true God.

Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people:
and walk in all the ways that I have commended you,
that it may be well unto you.