Seize the Moment – Day 532

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31
Aug '21

Seize the Moment – Day 532

Posted on Aug 31, 2021 by Jerry Ingalls in Devotions, General |

31
Aug '21

Responsible Living!

Leviticus 10

 

Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, August 31.

 

Is there anything in your life that keeps you from being available to the Lord’s service?

 

Leviticus 10:1-2 makes a sudden transition from the inauguration of the sacrificial system to the tragic deaths of two newly ordained priests:

 

Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.

 

Were the two sons of Aaron not authorized to offer the incense or did they make a mistake by offering an unauthorized incense or offer it at the wrong time or maybe the fire they used came from a wrong source?

 

If you keep reading, you get some further insight on this incident because God issues a new command to the priests in verses 8-9:
 
“The Lord then spoke to Aaron, saying, ‘Do not drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the tent of meeting, so that you will not die—it is a perpetual statute throughout your generations.’”

 

Prior to this horrific event, alcohol was not mentioned and now, God makes it clear that while drinking alcohol was not wholesale prohibited for His people, it was forbidden while fulfilling priestly duties. This would be emphasized again in Ezekiel 44:21.

 

Ephesians 5:18 discusses alcohol for new covenant believers, who are all God’s priests today: “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.” The prohibition is not against alcohol usage, but against drunkenness and irresponsibility. The Bible calls us to being of sound mind, body, and soul, not intoxicated by anything so that we can live our lives holy and whole.

 

Seize the moment and live a sober and responsible life! Be available to serve the Lord effectively at any time of the night or day.

 

God bless your day!
 
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YOUTUBE:

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