Saturday, 27th May 2023
Andrews Ampomah
TOPIC: GOD WILL BE SANCTIFIED
THEME SCRIPTURE: “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 10:3
PREPARATORY QUESTIONS:
- What does God mean that He will be sanctified?
- Why was God reminding Moses to inform Aaron about His glory?
Sadly, many post-modern believers lack reverential fear for God, evident during worship services especially. We have quickly forgotten that the God of the Old Testament Church (the nation of Israel) is the same God of the New Testament Church. The dispensation of grace has been over-exploited. Let’s not forget that the dispensation of grace is not a license to indulge in irreverent worship. Is it that our services are no longer solemn and lack the atmosphere of holiness that accompanies the Trisagion One (the thrice-holy God)? Some believers gossip right in the middle of church services. We record ourselves to post on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, etc. Our minds are not focused on the reason (God) for our worship. Do we sing and dance to glorify ourselves? Don’t we sometimes cast our offerings to impress men rather than honor God?
It seems ‘the self’ is at the center of everything we do in our worship services, engaging in all forms of sacrilegious and unacceptable practices before our God.
In Leviticus 10, we read of a sad disruption in the historical account of Israel. After Aaron and his sons were consecrated (Lev 8:30) and God accepted their offerings (Lev 9:24), the Lord burned Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's children, with fire. Their offence was an offering of strange fire (foreign or profane fire) before the Lord. The meaning of the word “profane or unauthorized” is also "foreign,” which connotes the bringing of something from outside (which He has not sanctioned). Striking to note that Aaron and his children were also commanded by God not to even mourn Nadab and Abihu. Moses then informs Aaron of what the Lord has said to him: “Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people, I will be glorified.” God here emphasizes the holiness with which all should attend to things related to him. Worship is intended to hallow God and glorify him rather than it being for us.
God affirms that He will defend His holiness and that He will also be glorified among all who come near Him.
Beloved in Christ, God remains a jealous God and a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24). While he gives us unrestricted access to himself, we are to approach him with reverential fear, knowing that God is fierce both in his love and wrath. The standards and conditions for offering worship to God have not changed. He remains the Thrice Holy God who expects His children to worship Him exclusively.
Beloved, we must not take the opportunity to worship God through Christ Jesus' finished work for granted. We must embrace it to offer acceptable worship.
We cannot take the Lord’s long-suffering and patience for His weakness. Shouldn’t you resolve to make God your only focus during your worship service? Shouldn’t you also resolve to avoid distractions or strange things during worship services? Would you resolve that from henceforth you will do all you can to sanctify the Thrice Holy God in all your worship? We will begin to see the glory of God if we become conscious of his holiness and walk in reverential fear at all times.
FURTHER READING – Leviticus 10:1-20
Call to Salvation: Today is your day if you have not received salvation by turning over your life to Jesus Christ. Click here to do so
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:
- Do you have a sense of reverence and awe for God’s holiness in your worship?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, help me to be focused on You, and never to engage in unacceptable things during worship. Let your Holy Spirit help me to continuously sanctify you in worship and in all that I do in Christ Jesus’ name, Amen.
1-Year Bible Reading Plan
Joshua 13; Isaiah 17; 2 Timothy 3
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