Leviticus 10-- Part One

There's a bunch to look at here in Leviticus 10... I may take on this passage for a few days!

Leviticus 10 relates the account of Nadab and Abihu, two sons of Aaron and members of priesthood. These two sons had heard all the LORD had commanded about how to approach him, how to sacrifice, how to bring offerings, and how to present themselves in a holy and consecrated way before a holy God. They had gone through the ordination ceremonies and had from a human stand-point heard it all... Experienced it all... And participated fully. It looked like they had been star pupils, gotten all the check-marks, earned all the gold stars, and had gotten the diploma. But something was missing...

Leviticus 10:1 says, Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over them. In this way, they disobeyed the LORD by burning before him the wrong kind of fire, different than he commanded. 

--These two sons took lightly the specific commands of God. They had heard it all, but decided to do it their way. God loves us... He is full of grace and mercy... But he is not one we can take lightly or take for granted. True worship of the LORD is about approaching him on his terms and in a way that is pleasing to him. It isn't supposed to be a little bit my way and a little bit his way. God is the one that must be glorified when we approach him in worship. The question is-- Are we doing what we do in worship to please and glorify  God? Or are we somehow trying to please and   glorify ourselves?

--God doesn't play games! He's not interested in 'man-centered' efforts to reach out to him. He is not pleased when we elevate anything other than his holy name in worship. 

If this raises our hackles or rankles us in some way, perhaps our hearts and our attitudes about worship are incorrect?

God is absolutely holy and demands reverence in his presence. We cannot take him lightly for too long without consequences of some sort. Hebrews 12:28&29 says,  Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. 

Is God loving? ... Yes, of course! But that does not negate the fact that he is completely holy and is still a consuming fire! Our heart attitude toward God shows if we truly know him and rightly esteem him for all that he is. Do we believe God is completely in control and worthy of all honor, respect, awe, and fear? (Yes... FEAR... I'll have more on that tomorrow!) Taking God lightly and trying to fit him into our little "worship-box" is a bad habit. 

I can only speak about this stuff today, because I've been guilty of it myself. As a kid and teen growing up in the church (almost from birth on...), I was a pro at paying the "church-game". I jumped through hoops... Tried to look good to all be adults around me... Focused on the externals... And went my own way for nearly twenty years! During those years I didn't really know Jesus and I was dead in sin. I was all about "Tim" and doing things to please me. My heart had no true desire to know God and to truly worship him on his terms. In fact at 18 years of age I stepped away from the church-game and went the world's way for a handful of years. This too... Left me completely empty and still lost and dead in sin. 

Even after I gave my life to Jesus at age 25, it took quite awhile to turn away from the "me-centered" approach to worship and attempting to follow God.  And every now and then these old traits rear their heads again. Usually they spring from my selfishness and pride.  God has been teaching and gently correcting me and showing me it is always all about him, not about me. The  Lord has been so patient with me. I'm so blessed to not have suffered the same fate as Nadab and Abihu!  Because I surely deserved it (and much worse!)

I pray today that my life would be squarely pointed toward Christ... Glorifying him in all that I do, say, think, and feel... Loving others... And living out the heart of Jesus in a hurt and dying world.