Obedient Offerings

 ”And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.’ ” So Aaron held his peace.“ ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭10‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

While the scripture is littered with numerous examples of acceptable and strange offerings, the basis of an obedient offering stands out for believers with the example of Abihu and Nadab’s strange offerings. Instead of fire coming down from heaven to consume the offerings, it came down to devour the disobedient priests - Abihu and Nadab. Likewise, life’s daily engagements, devotion, and activities demand the offering of our time, talents and treasures for diverse motives. And when surrounded by many admirers, dependents, and associates with divergent needs and conflicts of interest, it is understandable to excuse the pressure to sometimes offer inconsistent sacrifices, depending on whose interests are best being given priority. Abihu and Nadab apparently offered the strange fire before the altar to please the pressure of their ego, relevance and pride, possibly to make a statement before their admirers. Whereas, Moses had to remind Aaron and every obedient child of God “This is what the Lord spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified’”. It is not just enough to be committed to making the sacrifice of time, talent, and treasure; but rather ‘are these offerings holy, acceptable, and obedient to the revealed commandment of the Lord’?

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