Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command.

Leviticus 10:1-3

10 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. 3 Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when he said:
“‘Among those who approach me
I will be proved holy;
in the sight of all the people
I will be honored.’”
Aaron remained silent.

Today’s title is “Unauthorized Fire”

Our faith in Christ needs to be passionate. Christ warned against the lukewarmness of the believer as an intolerable thing. He said to the Laodicean Church which was lukewarm, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth (Revelation 3:15-16). Jesus was full of passion. He loved the people passionately. He served God passionately. So it is fitting that we have passions like Christ in whatever we do. But our passion for God and man should always be under God’s control and authority. Being passionate for God doesn’t mean that we can do whatever if it is done out of a passion for God. God is God of order as well as God of passion. God’s passion does not conflict with His order. God’s order never stifle freedom and passion. It rather buttresses and even enhances man’s freedom and passion for God. We don’t need to go over the boundary of God to be “hot” for God. Today’s passage shows a good example and warning against such godless and excessive “hotness”. God has chosen Aaron and his sons to serve in the tabernacle. The tabernacle, more than anything else, was a place of God’s presence. Everybody who works in the presence of God must show honor and respect to God’s holiness. God has meticulously told Aaron and His sons in what manner they should serve in the tabernacle. Aaron and his sons were to pay due respect and honor to God by following the rules that God has given. Unfortunately, Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu offered unauthorized fire before the Lord contrary to His command. Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. What a shocking aftermath of a seemingly inadvertent action! But God never excessively punish His servants. Surely the implication of the offering unauthorized fire to the Lord is far more serious than we would imagine. Like unauthorized fire, overflowing passions that lack in due fear of God is a violation of God’s holiness. We should avoid such displeasure of God at all costs. How passionate are you to God? Don’t be lukewarm. How humble and fearful are you before God? Be careful not to violate God’s holiness. Amen!