Which do you prefer: Law or Grace?
I read through the Bible every year, and I recently read the account of the Exodus and God’s institution of the Mosaic Law.
I don’t know how the priests did it. Precision and obedience was a life and death matter for them.
Aaron was leading an amazing time of worship as the ordained sacrifices were made.
God honored their worship by showing the people His glory by sending fire to consume the offerings.
Perhaps, they were caught up in the moment, but Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, made a fatal mistake.
They didn’t follow God’s protocols.
Instead, they offered incense in a manner that God did not prescribe.
They disobeyed by seeking to enter His Presence on their own terms.
The same fire that consumed the offerings, consumed them in an instant.
God’s explanation was simple, “Among those who approach Me, I will show Myself holy; in the sight of all the people, I will be honored.”
These men had gone through ritual cleansing and anointing that set them apart from the common Jews.
They were designated as holy or set apart unto God.
God is HOLY!
He is set apart from sin.
Sin is rooted in pride, or “I want to do things my way.” I WILL BE GOD!
Their act of offering unauthorized fire before the LORD was an act of pride.
God had to judge it and consume them.
Under the Law, there was no leeway for sin.
In another account, Uzziah, the priest, was struck dead instantly for touching the ark as he steadied it.
What was the real problem?
The ark was supposed to be carried on the shoulders of the priests.
Someone had decided to do it a ‘better’ way and have it carried on a cart.
The cart hit a bump, and Uzziah instinctively reached out to steady it, and boom, he died.
Now, let’s look at grace.
Grace is not license: “Hey, do whatever you want. It’s all paid for!”
No, in fact, it’s grace that teaches us to say ‘no’ to ungodliness and ‘yes’ to righteousness.
It’s God’s grace that has reconnected us to God and made us members of His family.
Grace has given us our new identities in Christ.
It teaches us to live out of His life in us.
The Law gives sin is power, while grace empowers us to obey.
Jesus satisfied our sin debt and made us holy in Him.
He brings His Holiness into our lives.
We don’t have to perform any ritual perfectly, because Jesus fulfilled the Law for us.
Beloved, aren’t you glad you don’t have to follow the Law?
We get to live in His love and grace, humbly depending on Jesus to walk in obedience to our Father’s will.
Blessings!
Robyn