“We fear men so much—because we fear God so little. One fear cures another.”
William Gurnall
This week’s devotional is an offering extracted from a sermon by Jason Werges. The text was Leviticus 10. The subject? The holiness of God. Here is a portion of the introduction:
What would you say if I told you that in the Bible, there’s a story where two people are instantly killed by God, not for murder or adultery, but for what seems like a minor procedural error in worship? Sounds harsh, doesn’t it? Perhaps even unjust by our modern sensibilities. But today, in Leviticus chapter 10, verses 1 through 3, we are confronted with exactly that reality. Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, God’s chosen high priest, bring unauthorized fire before the Lord, and fire from the Lord consumes them. This isn’t just a shocking historical event; it’s a profound theological statement. It forces us to ask: What kind of God is this? What does it truly mean to approach Him as a sinful man? And why is His holiness so utterly non-negotiable? This passage will point us to a truth about God that we cannot afford to ignore, a truth that ultimately points us to the only way we can truly stand before Him.
What is the only way we can truly stand before God? Jason has asked the question and he answers it later in the sermon:
The Father’s love was so great for us that he offered up His only son. The Lord Jesus Christ took on flesh and came to dwell among us. He lived a perfect, obedient, sinless life, and then was crucified on a cruel wooden tree. He bore the full weight of the wrath of God against all sin and unrighteousness. His death satisfied the Father’s holiness and justice. His death solves the massive dilemma for sinners such as you and I.
God, in His perfect holiness, poured out judgement on sin. Sin wasn’t swept under the rug or forgotten about. It was washed clean by the blood pouring from the stripes on the Savior’s back. The Father’s wrath was satisfied as the nails were driven deep into the hands and feet of the only One who truly never did deserve it. Jesus Christ, the spotless lamb, was sacrificed to cover my sin. My greed, my lust, my anger. He didn’t deserve any of it, yet he willingly laid His life down. He rose from the grave and even now sits at the right hand of the Father.
For the preaching of Jesus Christ as the only way of salvation, we are grateful. If you have never trusted Christ, then let this new year be marked by your turning away from sin and to the Lord in repentance and faith. Have a blessed day and we will see many of you on Sunday.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Dale
