Our Duty is Obedience

Leviticus 10:1–3 (HCSB)

Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his own firepan, put fire in it, placed incense on it, and presented unauthorized fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them ‹to do›.

Then flames leaped from the LORD’s presence and burned them to death before the LORD.

So Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD meant when He said:

I will show My holiness

to those who are near Me,

and I will reveal My glory

before all the people."

But Aaron remained silent.

I think that Nadab and Abihu just got “caught up” in the moment and decided to do “a little something extra.” But when the LORD says, “Do this” that is what you do. You don’t go beyond that. You don’t do less and you don’t do more. You do what God commanded.

We know we get into trouble when we take away from God’s commands, but do we know we get into trouble when we add to? When God is specific then we are to be just as specific. When we add a little something extra, thinking that is going to win favor with God, we are wrong. We don’t earn “extra credit” with God. He is worthy of our best just simply because He is worthy.

He reveals His holiness to those who are near Him. We draw near when we do what He says. If we want to see His glory—and we want others to see His glory—we must do what He says. It’s all about obedience!