Honestly, I was pretty impressed that Saul even waited for the seven days appointed by Samuel. Despite his desperate situation, Saul still followed Samuel's instructions and waited seven days for Samuel's return. Even though Saul ran out of patience at the end, it's hard for me to criticize him because I run out of patience even faster. When my circumstances push me to my limits, I rarely have the patience to pray about them. I make haste decisions, trying to solve the situation with my own strength and limited wisdom. Or even when I do pray about certain things, I often fail to pray with persistence, unable to endure in obedience.
Saul probably thought that he had been "patient enough." He had already waited for seven days so he had been obedient enough. Yet, as today's devotional points out, "partial obedience" is not obedience. God is never partial with me. He is always fully patient, fully merciful and fully loving. In response to His commitment and faithfulness to me, I cannot offer Him just a part of my heart. As my Lord, He deserves complete sovereignty over my heart and my life. My obedience to Him should not be optional or dependent on my circumstances, but should be done without question or excuse.
Also, what is really encouraging is that God helps us to be more patient and obedient. As said in the devotional, "Patience is more than about just waiting; it is an act of worship." Patience is not passively waiting on God, but is actively trusting in God. God's grace humbles our hearts and molds us so that we can have our full faith in Him. He helps us to persistently and passionately pray, repent and worship Him.
Just as Jesus, the Son of God, humbly obeyed His Father, I pray that we, as His children, would obey Him with all of our heart and soul.
Thanks for sharing Jenn, am praying for you :)
ReplyDelete