Suppose I say to my boy, "Willie, I want you to go out and bring me a glass of water," and he says he doesn't want to go.
"I didn't ask you whether you wanted to go or not, Willie; I told you to go."
"But I don't want to go," he says.
"You must get me a glass of water."
He does not like to go. But he knows I like grapes, and he likes them too, so he goes out, and gets a beautiful cluster of grapes. He returns and says, "Papa, here is a beautiful cluster of grapes for you."
"But what about the water?"
"Won't the grapes be acceptable, Papa?"
"No, the grapes are not acceptable; I want you to get me a glass of water."
The little fellow doesn't want to get the water, but he goes out, and this time someone gives him an orange. He brings it in and places it before me. "Is that acceptable?" he asks.
"No, no, no!" I say; "I want nothing but water; you cannot do anything to please me until you get the water."
And so, my friends, to please God you must first obey Him.