WEDNESDAY May 18, 2022
A Test of Obedience
Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. So Saul said, “Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.” And he offered the burnt offering. Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him. And Samuel said, “What have you done?”
1 Samuel 13:8-11
It was only two short years into the reign of Saul that he began to decline rapidly in his leadership. He failed to listen and obey the voice of the Lord. On one occasion, King Saul waited for the prophet Samuel to come and offer a sacrifice to God at the set time arranged. Samuel was delayed, and, under pressure, looking at the circumstances of war, Saul became very impatient. Saul stepped into the office of the priest and went ahead and offered a sacrifice of consecration to the Lord.
King Saul had become restless in waiting for Samuel. He willfully overstepped his boundaries when he offered the sacrifice and failed to wait for him. When Samuel saw what Saul had done, he strongly rebuked him for his hypocrisy. Saul had willfully disobeyed God and stepped into a holy office that God had not called him into. Saul’s disobedience would cost him his kingship––his whole future was about to change.
A major problem within ministries in a church is when people overstep God’s set boundaries for their lives. When they think they can do a better job than somebody else, they cross over into a position that was not intended. They received no call from God to do it. Like Saul, they risk being disqualified. God will eventually remove them unless they repent. This is why some Christians find themselves placed on the shelf.
If you are put on the shelf, do not rust there, but pray the master to brighten you up so that when He comes to use you again you may be fully fitted for the work which he has in hand for you.
~C. H. Spurgeon~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
