"Is your relationship with Jesus one of sacrifice or convenience?"

Let the title marinate for a minute.....

...

Did it sink in yet? Hopefully it did. This question was presented to me as I was reading today (a book I will reveal at a later time), and it really began to convict me. The contrast between convenience and sacrifice can also be equivalent to that of comfort vs. faith. Today as I read 1 Sam. 13, the conflict between convenience and sacrifice (comfort and faith) became much more vivid and clear.

1 Samuel 13 (verses 1-6) begins by telling the story of King Saul (Israel) and his continued battle with the Philistines. However the real message of the story begins to formulate as the men of Israel are "hard pressed by the enemy." Consider 1 Samuel 13: 7b-14 (NLT) for more context:

 Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were trembling with fear. ⁸ Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn’t come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away. ⁹ So he demanded, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!” And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself.

 ¹⁰ Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, ¹¹ but Samuel said, “What is this you have done?”

   Saul replied, “I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn’t arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle. ¹² So I said, ‘The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven’t even asked for the Lord’s help!’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself before you came.”
 ¹³ “How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. ¹⁴ But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”

Wow, when we begin to lose sight of the One who is on our side and focus our sight on our own limited resources, we panic at the sight of our opposition. Truth of the matter is, many times when WE feel time is running out and when we are at the end of our rope, we become impatient with God's timing on a situation.

Like Saul, I often times find myself making a decision or an excuse based on convenience...Ironically Saul made and sacrifice offering; however, the cause for the sacrifice offering was rooted from his convenience!

Wow...!!!

The pressure? Our true spiritual character is revealed when we are under pressure! We could very well miss the opportunity God intended for us, because His plan is sometimes not "convenient" or "comforting" for us at a particular moment. I find it amazing that just as Saul had put matters into his own hands, the promise from God occurred. I cannot help to think, what if Saul had waited just a little longer...

Proverbs 3:5-6:

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
      do not depend on your own understanding.
 ⁶ Seek his will in all you do,
      and he will show you which path to take

Picture from: http://godwhispers7.blogspot.com/2011/03/timing.html