December 16, 2005
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Strange Fire – Chuck Smith
God doesn’t want anybody seeking glory for themselves as they serve Him. It could be that when all of this excitement arose and all the people were worshipping God, that the sons of Aaron suddenly distracted people from what God was doing and drew the attention of the people to themselves by stepping out and offering their incense at an inappropriate time. At a time when people’s hearts and attention were centered on God and God was ministering to His people, these two men with their false offering were an interruption. They sought only to glorify themselves by reminding the people that they were God’s priests. God does not want anything or anybody to distract attention from Him. God will not share His glory with any man!
I realize that I have the awesome responsibility of properly representing God to you so that you don’t get a false concept of God. I pray that you will also recognize your responsibility, because you represent God to the world and you can’t let people get the wrong concept of Him. In everything you do for God, take care that your motivations are pure and that it is only God’s fire that you are offering unto the Lord – and not the fire of your own enthusiasm or your personality. Make sure you have a clear mind and full knowledge of what you are doing. Make sure you have a willing heart and that you do your service to Him in a way that won’t distract from the One that we have come to represent. Make sure that you don’t take attention from God and call it to yourself, but that people see Christ through you.
May God help you be a true and faithful representative. God loves the world and He wants the world to know that. He has chosen you as His instrument. And you can walk in fellowship with Him and He can bless your life so completely that you will be filled with His joy, His power and His love and the needy world around you will see the benefits of walking in fellowship with God.
