Through the Bible: Leviticusಮಾದರಿ

I Will Show Holiness 

Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’” And Aaron held his peace. 

Leviticus 10:1-3 (ESV)

Performing the authorized sacred sacrifice is an act of obedience. Doing them correctly shows respect for God. We are not sure exactly what Nadab and Abihu had done to cause the unauthorized fire. Either they showed contempt for the instruction of the LORD due to their pride, or neglected them due to their carelessness. But in any case, they had  a bad attitude when dealing with the things of God, who is holy and inviolable.

This incident serves as a warning for us. Not because God might consume us with fire, but because we need to guard our hearts from being prideful and careless. God is holy and inviolable. It is rather absurd to think we can reach God’s standard of holiness by our human endeavors, let alone when we have a prideful or careless attitude. The only way it works is to serve God out of the genuine love from our hearts, for the Bible says that love fulfills all the laws.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for our salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.   You are holy and we are not. Thank You for showing and helping us to understand that our lives are not a game and that priesthood is a very serious matter to which we are called. In Jesus' name, amen.