In chapter 15 of 1 Samuel we read one of the most famous verses in the book. Simply put, it says, “obedience is better than sacrifice.” There comes a time when we stop offering sacrifice for sins and start obeying God’s instructions. I love Garrison Keilor’s story about Larry:

Larry was saved 12 times in the Lutheran church, an all-time record. Between 1953 and 1961 he threw himself weeping and contrite on God’s throne of grace on 12 separate occasions–and this in a Lutheran church that wasn’t evangelical, had no altar call, no organist playing Just as I Am. This is the Lutheran church, not a bunch of hillbillies. These are Scandinavians, and they repent in the same way that they sin: discreetly, tastefully, at the proper time. … Twelve times! Even we fundamentalists got tired of him. … God did not mean for us to feel guilt all our lives. There comes a point when you should dry your tears and join the building committee and start grappling with the problems of the church furnace and … make church coffee and be of use, but Larry kept on repenting and repenting.

It’s better to obey then sacrifice!