19 September Leviticus 10

Approach God with pure hearts and the right attitude

Leviticus 10:1-2 (AMP) “Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective [ceremonial] censers, put fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange (unauthorized, unacceptable) fire before the Lord, [an act] which He had not commanded them to do. And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord”.

Only twice in the Bible do we see God taking someone's life because of how they worshipped Him. One example is when Ananias and Sapphira lie about their tithes and are punished with death. In both cases, God acted to set an example and send a message. Some Christians might think this story doesn't matter today because we live under God's mercy and grace, but it is still vital and relevant.

However, in the Old Testament, God warned that sin could block a believer’s prayers in the following scripture.

Isaiah 1:15 (AMP) “So when you spread out your hands [in prayer, pleading for My help], I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you offer many prayers, I will not be listening. Your hands are full of blood!”.

Isaiah 59:2 (AMP) “But your wickedness has separated you from your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear”.

Proverbs 28:9 (AMP) “He who turns his ear away from listening to the law [of God and man], Even his prayer is repulsive [to God]”.

In the New Testament, believers are warned that sin can hinder a believer’s prayers, based on these scriptures:

1 Peter 3:7 (AMP) “In the same way, you husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way [with great gentleness and tact, and with an intelligent regard for the marriage relationship], as with someone physically weaker, since she is a woman. Show her honour and respect as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered or ineffective”.

John 9:31 (AMP) “We know [according to your tradition] that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone fears God and does His will, He hears him”.

Amazingly, as children of God, our prayers are a pleasing aroma to God, this confirmed by:

Psalm 141:2 (AMP) “Let my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering”.

Revelation 5:8 (AMP) “And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb (Christ), each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of fragrant incense, which are the prayers of the saints (God’s people)”.

When entering God's presence through prayer, we must ensure that we do so with clean hearts and the right attitude.

While we don't know precisely what Nadab and Abihu did before they died, it's clear that they didn't show proper respect for God. They ignored God's instructions and worshipped Him instead of following His words. 1 Peter 1:15-17 (ERV) “Be holy in everything you do, just as God is holy. He is the one who chose you. In the Scriptures God says, “Be holy, because I am holy.” You pray to God and call him Father, but he will judge everyone the same way, by what they do. So while you are visiting here on earth, you should live with respect for God”.

In conclusion, Nadab and Abihu's story is a powerful reminder that approaching God requires reverence and obedience. Their disregard for God's instructions led to severe consequences, underscoring the importance of honouring Him in all aspects of worship. The Old and New Testaments warn that sin can block our prayers and hinder our relationship with God. As believers, we must approach God with pure hearts and the right attitude, knowing that our prayers are precious to Him when offered in sincerity and faithfulness. Just as God calls us to be holy, we must strive to live in a way that reflects His holiness, showing deep respect for His Word and His presence in our lives.