Moment of Meditation: Impatient Sacrifice (1 Samuel 13:8)

Original Broadcast: August 2009

Monthly Theme: King Saul

[Saul] waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel.
But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him.
(1 Samuel 13:8)

Impatient Sacrifice

Saul grew impatient and worried. Samuel was taking his sweet time and the natives were getting restless. The Philistines were just on the next hill, waiting to attack. Saul had to take action.

Impatience is probably the greatest American problem. We can't wait for anything. If it's not happening now, we don't want to hear about it. But much of what is important requires waiting. In the Creed, we confess that we live in a constant state of waiting. We're waiting for Jesus to come back and judge the living and the dead.

Many of us, like Saul, get tired of waiting and just expect Him to never come. So we live like it. We teach like it. Everything has to deal with what's happening now. We forget all about the future and the "big picture" by just looking at the here and now.

But even though, like Samuel, Jesus tarries past our expectations of Him, He is coming back to judge the living and the dead. Saul had the kingdom taken away from him for his actions. Will the kingdom be taken away from you for being too impatient? Consider that today. Amen.