Marsha's Musings: God's Holiness

I read this very sobering passage of Scripture this week.

Leviticus 10:1 ¶ And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of
them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered
strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. 2 And there went
out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. 3
¶ Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be
sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be
glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

This is scary stuff. What Nadab and Abihu did, was not expressly forbidden by God, nor was it commanded by Him. They were experimenting with a new and different way of worship and God was not pleased. The New King James puts God's words this way,

"'By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the
people I must be glorified.'"

I can only guess that what Nadab and Abihu did was not glorifying to God and must have not showed a holy regard for God and His holiness.

It makes me wonder...how often do I do things in worship of God that are not showing a holy regard for His holiness and are not glorifying to Him? What about our churches? Is the worship of your church God-centered and everything done there aimed at glorifying God and done with a holy regard for His holiness? Or is it man-centered, showcasing the talents of the church members in how they sing, speak or carry themselves? Is the worship of your church aimed at pleasing God or man? These are hard questions, but questions that must be considered if we are to worship God in a way that regards Him as holy and in a way that glorifies Him and not man.