Silence

Silence
Originally uploaded by !shtiaQ Ahmed

3 Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke of when he said:
" 'Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.' " Aaron remained silent. (Leviticus 10)

When I read this verse, I stopped and took notice. Mostly because of three little words, “Aaron remained silent.” Aaron just lost two of his sons. The LORD sent fire and consumed them and they died before the LORD. Both sons, Nadab and Abihu, placed unauthorized fire in their censors and offered it before the LORD. But this went against the command of God, and it was punished. They lost their lives. The LORD was not kidding, and Aaron’s sons paid with their lives for their lack of obedience.

Moses used this opportunity to remind Aaron that what God said was absolutely true. He will show himself holy, and he will be honored. The unauthorized fire was not holy and did not honor the LORD. It was a willful disobedient thing to do.

So how do we show ourselves holy to God? And how do we honor Him? In a word: obedience. Listening to and obeying his commands… one of which is be holy because I AM holy.

The LORD desires obedience, not sacrifice. Obedience places God first and makes his word and decrees a priority in our lives. When we do it our way, we aren’t obeying. We are honoring ourselves above God. And this is costly. In the story above, it cost these two their lives. And it is the same for us. When we disobey, it is costly because is costs us our fellowship with God. And isn’t that our very lives?

LORD, may each one of us be holy, because you are holy. May we honor you in the sight of all people. May we be silent before you. Listening. Pondering. Dwelling. In You. Amen.