“And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censor, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. Leviticus 10:1-3
God’s call unto those involved in upholding the sanctity of God’s order, was to put principle before passion. Aaron respected that call, and did not let his grief over the death of his two sons override the need to respect their deaths as being a righteous act of Divine judgment for their transgression.
There is no doubt that Aaron, being their father, could have let his passion get the best of him, unto going off the deep end by lashing out with bitter and harsh words that would vent his feelings of grief.
“And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them” Numbers 20:12. Thus, God will not even excuse His faithful servants for allowing their passion to override correct principle. Moses let his passions get the best of him and it disqualified him from leading Israel into the possession of the promised land. “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” James 1:20
When it comes to taking our stand for the truth, Christ requires that we honor the principles of God’s Word above our human passions – “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:37-38
If we do not honor God’s principles over human passion, then every hurt we feel to our pride and self-esteem, may very well throw us aside from standing with and for the truth. In all our dealings, whether secular or spiritual, there is always the need to deny ourselves, in order to keep ourselves in line with honoring what is right above all else.
“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” Proverbs 25:28
SHARING
