Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Holy Ordination: A Fragrance to Christ
Elizabeth Philip
St. John’s MTC, NY
19 And Aaron spoke to Moses,
“See, today they offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the
Lord; and yet such things as these have befallen me! If I had eaten the sin
offering today, would it have been agreeable to the Lord?”
From the beginning, God provided
clear rules and standards for priests so that the people of Israel understood
His expectations. Moses had given instructions to people of Israel regarding
God’s commands regarding sacrificial sin and burnt offerings. The above verse
tells us that Aaron was following God’s commands even though his two sons
(Nadab and Abihu) were burnt to death in the presence of the Lord for not
following the Lord’s commands. Aaron was fasting and following God’s commands
to save the rest of his family.
When we face difficulties in our daily lives, we question the rules and
regulations imposed to us by our rulers and authorities. As Christians, are we
committed to doing what God expects us to do? Don’t we make our own assumptions
and excuses by not following the rules? Are we prepared to follow God’s
commands to save our family and friends just like Aaron? Romans 6:23 reads,
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord”. We are aware that we all pay the penalty for sin. At times, we
get foolish, disobedient, and rude. We become slaves of passions and pleasures
of this world. We become so consumed with worldly pleasures that we tend to
forget the simple principles given to us by our God. As per Solomon’s
proverbs, can anyone really say that he got rid of his sin? We have a Christian
conduct – an obligation to live by the Spirit. Sometimes, it takes a painful
experience to make us change our ways. We have to reach rock bottom in order to
build a more positive and better character for ourselves. When we confess our
sins and ask God for forgiveness, we will be saved through Jesus Christ
our Savior. He will save us through grace and mercy.
PRAYER
Dear Father, when we face difficulties, help us
to follow Your commands as Aaron. Give us strength as we face difficulties in
our lives. Thank you for loving us unconditionally. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Obey the Lord, be humble, and you
will get riches, honor, and a long life – Proverbs 22:4