5.12.9 "God's Timing"

"God's Timing"

1 Samuel 12:1-13:23
John 7:1-30
Psalm 108:1-13
Proverbs 15:4

How important is it to wait for God's timing? I think patience is one of the most challenging areas of growth in the Christian life. It can be frustrating to want to do something, and yet have to wait. It can even be a greater challenge when we know it's the right thing to do, and yet God says, "wait."

We all know God has a plan for our life. He gives us big dreams. He calls us to great things. Sometimes he gives a picture of what it will be like. He places the desires within us. Here's where we get into trouble. "I know God has called me to do such and such, so now I'm going to make it happen." We then manipulate situations, and circumstances to make it happen. It's not a big deal, right? I mean it's the thing he's called us to do!

In I Samuel 13, Saul and his army are waiting to go to war with the Philistines. "When the men of israel saw the vast mass of enemy troops, they lost their nerve entirely and tried to hide in caves, thickets, coverts, among the rocks, and even in tombs and cisterns... Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and those who were with him trembled with fear at what awaited them. Samuel had told Saul earlier to wait seven days for his arrival, but when he still didn't come, and Saul's troops were rapidly slipping away, he decided to sacrifice the burnt offering and the peace offerings himself. But just as he was finishing, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet him and to receive his blessing, but Samuel said, 'What is this you have done?'" (I Sam. 13:6-11)

Saul makes excuses about why he went ahead with the sacrifice, but Samuel says, "'You fool!' Samuel exclaimed. 'You have disobeyed the commandment of the Lord your God. He was planning to make you and your descendants kings of Israel forever, but now your dynasty must end; for the Lord wants a man who will obey him.'" (13:13-14)

Wow! that's a pretty heavy consequence for such a "seemingly small" step of disobedience. Why is that? Let's compare this with a conversation that Jesus has with his brothers in John 7.

"But soon it was time for the Tabernacle Ceremonies, one of the annual Jewish holidays, and Jesus' brothers urged him to go to Judea for the celebration. 'Go where more people can see your miracles!' they scoffed. 'You can't be famous when you hide like this! If you're so great, prove it to the world!' For even his brothers didn't believe in him. Jesus replied, 'It is not the right time for me to go now. But you can go anytime and it will make no difference... You go on, and I'll come later when it is the right time.'" (John 7:2-8) Jesus did end up going a little later, but "incognito".

What is the difference between Jesus and Saul? One of them understood the importance of the right timing in doing what he was called to do. There's a bigger picture. Not only is there the right thing to do, there is a right time to do it. To do the right thing at the wrong time is doing the wrong thing.

One of the things we see by the consequence upon Saul is the HUGE importance God puts on obedience. There is always more at stake than we think. When we take short cuts, we risk EVERYTHING. Jesus knew this when he was being tempted by Satan. If we don't have a full understanding of our call and the value God places on our obedience, we will sell it for a bowl of soup without even thinking about it.

You are valuable to God. When you understand that value, you will make decisions that reflect the intensity and importance of what you are called to do. Remember when Jesus says, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."? That is only true when we are walking in step with him. If we are trying to move too fast or too slow, or turn one way or another, we are pulling against his will. We are exerting a lot of fleshly effort.

We need to constrain ourselves to his will. We need to understand the precious cargo we are carrying. We have the call of God on our life. This "burden" should not be a lack of peace. It's similar to that feeling as you walk out of the hospital with your first born. That is an almost indescribable sense. Not in the fact that it's a bad feeling, but rather you feel the awesome responsibility of doing the right thing.

Let's never forget the precious cargo of the calling and the burden of obedience that we carry with us each and every day.

The essence of the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship is Obedience. Walk in obedience today. Obedience is better than sacrifice!



Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

P Greg


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