OPEN HEAVENS FOR 20TH JUNE 2026
TOPIC: OBEY HIM
MEMORISE:
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. — 1 Samuel 15:22
READ: Genesis 22:1-3; Matthew 2:13-14 (KJV)
Genesis 22:1-3
And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
Matthew 2:13-14
And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
MESSAGE:
Sometimes, God gives instructions that appear to be very difficult to obey, and because of that, some Christians delay obeying them for long periods. There is, however, little difference, if any, between delaying obedience to God’s instructions and outright disobedience.
When God asked Abraham to offer Isaac to Him as a sacrifice in Genesis 22:1-3, I imagine that he did not discuss the matter with his wife. He probably thought that discussing God’s instruction with Sarah would cause delays, and he wouldn’t be able to carry it out. Even though God instructed him to do something difficult, he must have decided to obey promptly and not ponder over it.
As a result of his obedience, God swore by Himself to bless him and his seed forever (Hebrews 6:13-14). In the same vein, Joseph didn’t linger when an angel told him in a dream to flee to Egypt with Jesus and his mother (Matthew 2:13). If he had lingered, Herod’s soldiers could have caught up with them. Prompt obedience always leads to preservation and attracts God’s blessings.
When God gives you an instruction, He wants you to obey it promptly. Don’t query Him; just obey the instruction. In addition to promptly obeying His instructions, God also wants you to obey Him willingly. In Isaiah 1:19, He said, “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” Lastly, God expects you to obey Him completely.
Some Christians believe they can selectively choose which of God’s instructions to obey and which to disregard. However, when it comes to following God, there is no such thing as partial obedience; you either go all the way with Him or do not go at all. Saul made this mistake when God instructed him to utterly destroy the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:1-3). Instead of obeying God’s express command to destroy everyone and everything they owned, he spared the king and the best sheep, oxen, and lambs. Saul’s partial obedience displeased God and led to his rejection (1 Samuel 15:26).
This is because partial obedience equals disobedience in God’s sight. God will never be pleased with less than total obedience. Prompt and wholehearted obedience is always worth more than sacrifices made to Him (1 Samuel 15:22-23).
Beloved, has God given you instructions concerning any matter? Ask Him for the grace to obey them promptly, willingly, and completely. I pray that the Lord will turn every stony, disobedient heart to a heart of obedience, in Jesus’ name.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, please help me to always obey your instructions willingly, promptly, and wholeheartedly.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalms 81-88
HYMN 30: WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD
When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Chorus:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt nor a fear,
Not a sigh nor a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief nor a loss,
Not a frown nor a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do,
Where He sends we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.
About RCCG and Open Heavens
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) is a global Pentecostal denomination founded in 1952 by Reverend Josiah Akindayomi and now led by Pastor E. A. Adeboye as General Overseer. Headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, RCCG has spread to over 200 countries with millions of worshippers worldwide.
Open Heavens is the daily devotional of RCCG, written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye. First published in 2003, it has become one of the most widely read daily devotionals in the world. Each edition includes a memory verse, Bible reading, message, prayer point, and hymn. The devotional is known for its practical, Bible-based teachings that address everyday Christian living, spiritual warfare, and faith.
The devotional for 20th June 2026 emphasises the supreme importance of obedience to God, highlighting that prompt, willing, and complete obedience is better than any sacrifice.
BRIEF COMMENTARY
Based on Open Heavens 20th June 2026 – “Obey Him”
The Danger of Delayed Obedience
In today’s devotional, Pastor Adeboye addresses a critical issue: delayed obedience. Sometimes God gives instructions that appear very difficult to obey, and because of that, some Christians delay obeying them for long periods. There is, however, little difference, if any, between delaying obedience to God’s instructions and outright disobedience.
The memory verse from 1 Samuel 15:22 is the divine verdict on the priority of obedience. Does God delight in your sacrifices as much as He delights in your simple obedience? The answer is no. Obedience is better than sacrifice. You can give millions, sing beautifully, preach powerfully, and serve tirelessly—but if you are disobedient, all of it is worthless in God’s sight.
Abraham’s Prompt Obedience
When God asked Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, he did not discuss the matter with his wife. He probably thought that discussing God’s instruction with Sarah would cause delays, and he wouldn’t be able to carry it out. Even though God instructed him to do something difficult, he decided to obey promptly and not ponder over it.
Abraham rose up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, took Isaac and the wood, and went to the place God had told him. He did not argue with God, consult with Sarah, delay to see if circumstances would change, or negotiate for an alternative. He simply obeyed. Promptly. Completely.
As a result of his obedience, God swore by Himself to bless him and his seed forever (Hebrews 6:13-14). God did not swear to bless Abraham because of his sacrifices or his prayers. He swore because of his obedience. Prompt obedience unlocks oaths of blessing from heaven.
Joseph’s Night Flight
Joseph didn’t linger when an angel told him in a dream to flee to Egypt with Jesus and his mother. If he had lingered, Herod’s soldiers could have caught up with them. Joseph obeyed by night. He did not wait for daylight, favourable weather, or emotional readiness. He heard, rose, and left.
Prompt obedience always leads to preservation and attracts God’s blessings. If Joseph had delayed—waiting until morning, packing properly, saying goodbye to neighbours, or praying about it more—the Messiah could have been killed.
The Three Characteristics of Acceptable Obedience
First, prompt obedience. When God gives you an instruction, He wants you to obey it promptly. Don’t query Him; just obey the instruction. Rather than saying “Why me, Lord?” say “Here I am, Lord.” Rather than “Can I wait until…” say “I will obey now.” Don’t query Him; just obey. Your job is not to understand; your job is to obey.
Second, willing obedience. In addition to promptly obeying His instructions, God also wants you to obey Him willingly. Isaiah 1:19 says, “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” Willing obedience says “I want to obey You, Lord” and is joyful, cheerful, and eager. Reluctant obedience says “I guess I have to obey” and is grumbling, complaining, and resentful. God does not want robotic compliance. He wants children whose hearts align with His commands.
Third, complete obedience. God expects you to obey Him completely. Some Christians believe they can selectively choose which of God’s instructions to obey and which to disregard. However, when it comes to following God, there is no such thing as partial obedience; you either go all the way with Him or do not go at all. You cannot obey God in tithing while disobeying Him in forgiveness. You cannot worship on Sunday while cheating on Monday. You cannot pray for revival while living in secret sin. God wants all of you.
The Warning of King Saul
Saul made the mistake of partial obedience. God instructed him to utterly destroy the Amalekites—everything, no exceptions. Instead of obeying God’s express command, he spared the king and the best sheep, oxen, and lambs. Saul rationalised: “I kept the best to sacrifice to the Lord.”
But God saw through it. Saul’s partial obedience displeased God and led to his rejection. Partial obedience equals disobedience in God’s sight. You can do 90% of what God says and still be 100% disobedient if the 10% you omitted was part of His command. God does not grade on a curve. He does not accept partial credit. He wants total obedience. God will never be pleased with less than total obedience. Prompt and wholehearted obedience is always worth more than sacrifices made to Him.
How to Obey Promptly, Willingly, and Completely
First, stop negotiating with God. Instead of saying “But Lord, that doesn’t make sense,” say “I trust You, Lord. I will obey.” Instead of “Let me wait for confirmation,” say “I have heard You. I will act now.”
Second, obey before you understand. Abraham did not understand why God would command the sacrifice of Isaac. Joseph did not understand why God would send the Messiah to Egypt. They obeyed anyway. Understanding often comes after obedience, not before.
Third, check your attitude. Are you obeying grudgingly or cheerfully? If your obedience is willing, you will not complain about the cost. If you are reluctant, ask God to change your heart before you change your actions.
Fourth, don’t spare the “king” or the “best sheep.” Identify what you are holding back from God: the one sin you will not surrender, the one relationship you will not release, the one possession you will not give, the one comfort you will not sacrifice. That is your “King Agag.” That is your “best sheep.” Kill it. Do not spare it for sacrifice.
Fifth, ask for grace to obey. Obedience is not accomplished by willpower alone. It requires grace. Pray daily: “Lord, give me the grace to obey You today—promptly, willingly, and completely.”
Conclusion
Has God given you instructions concerning any matter? Ask Him for the grace to obey them promptly, willingly, and completely. The devotional prays that the Lord will turn every stony, disobedient heart to a heart of obedience.
Delay is disguised disobedience. Partial obedience is full disobedience. Obey promptly. Obey willingly. Obey completely. Do not spare the king. Do not keep the best sheep. Obey now.
Prayer Point from the Devotional:
Father, please help me to always obey your instructions willingly, promptly, and wholeheartedly.
Action Steps
The obedience audit – write down any instruction from God that you have delayed obeying. Put a date next to it: when did He speak? How long have you delayed? Then commit to obeying that instruction within 24 hours.
The “King Agag” identification – ask the Holy Spirit: What am I sparing? What “best sheep” am I keeping for myself while pretending to obey You in other areas? Identify it. Kill it. Do not bring it as a sacrifice.
The 24-hour prompt obedience challenge – for the next 24 hours, commit to obeying God instantly on every instruction—no matter how small. If He says “call that person,” call immediately. If He says “give that amount,” give immediately. Watch how your spiritual life transforms.
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