Unauthorized Offerings

This morning in my Bible reading I was reading Leviticus 10 where Aaron's sons (Nadab and Abihu) offered unauthorized fire before the Lord. This offering was contrary to the Lord's command, therefore they were put to death. God said: "Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored." This made me stop and think for a bit about how we often offer things to the Lord that either He didn't command, or that He doesn't find pleasing or holy.

My first thoughts were about a video that was on the news last week (ish? I don't have cable but someone shared it with me via facebook, I don't really know when it was actually aired). The topic was a lady who has opened up an exercise shop and is offering a class entitled "Pole Dancing for Jesus". She says that God gave her the gift of pole dancing and she wants to use it to honor Him. I'm sure Nadab and Abihu thought that their offering would honor God as well, but God didn't take it that way. He gave us specific commands in His word, and we aren't to honor Him however we choose, but the way that He has already chosen.

Now, I know that I am not "pole dancing for Jesus", but I can guarantee that I often think that my way is better than His. Or that I can offer something that He didn't think of. But that is just not true! He is God! He not only thinks of everything, but KNOWS everything! What could I come up with that could be better than what He asked for??? It's like when you have your heart set on a new Bible (or something) for Christmas, and you drop all the hints or even tell your husband, then he finds something that he thinks you will like better, we'll say candle sticks. How would you feel? You didn't get what you wanted, and you got something that you really didn't want, and this came from the person that was suppose to know and love you more than anyone else on earth. You would probably be more hurt over the lack of intimacy that is shown by this gift than not getting the Bible, right?

God has already told us how He wants us to worship, honor and glorify Him. We just need to dig into His Word, and follow His commands. We need to stop thinking that we can think of something He didn't, because it's not true. He doesn't want to be worshiped through sin (or something that could lead to, or be used to, sin).

It's always easy to pick out these things in others people's lives (especially if they're on the news), but it's not always easy to see them in our own lives. I would love to give you an example, but I haven't thought of something specific yet... I will be praying about this today, but in the meantime, if any of you could share an example (either from your own life, or just something that a normal person might do) of a way that we say we are worshiping, honoring, or bringing glory to God in a way that He didn't ask for, I would love some feedback!

I hope you all have a blessed day!

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