If You are going to drive, don’t Drink.

Tuesday  2-9-16 (Home in Modesto)     

Scripture reading for today:    Lev 10 - 12     Acts 16

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  Lev 10:1-3  Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them.  So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

Vs 8-11 Then the LORD spoke to Aaron, saying: "Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean...” NKJV

O.  Profane fire?  Why did Aaron’s two sons, both honored priests, die?  What could they have done to deserve this?  Their actions are not spelled out in detail.  Perhaps even Aaron and Moses did not know.  But the fact that Moses immediately added a new ruling to the priesthood, suggests to me that these two young men had donned the priestly robes and sauntered into the holy presence of the Lord to do their thing... totally drunk. 

A.  We passengers trust our drivers, airliner and ship pilots to stay away from intoxicating drinks and substances.  We all hope they follow the above Mosaic law. “Don’t dress up in your fancy uniform and try to do your job after drinking.”  Years ago, priests and pastors were often referred to as “Men of the cloth” probably referring to their robes as they stood to minister.

Pastor Cocholo and I were ministering with our Messenger of Peace boat in the Islands of the Paraná Delta. Due to helping someone out of difficult situation, we found ourselves needing a place to sleep in the tiny town of Paranacito.  The local Catholic priest, knowing who we were, kindly invited us to stay in what he called the “Bishop’s room” in his church.  He gave us the best he had and was very kind to us.  By his flushed face and demeaner it was easy to notice that he had had a few too many.  He offered us to join him in a few drinks and seemed very disappointed that we refused.  I suppose a lonely clergyman, who happens to not be a highly motivated self-starter... and thus has lots of time on his hands, might find the bottle could easily become a solace.  Well, Moses has strong advice for us ministers... “Don’t get drunk on the way to the pulpit, lest you die.” 

P.  Lord, that’s tough talk!  Well, You know me. I prefer to stay distant from anything that I know is deadly, on the way to the pulpit and on the way back from the pulpit or anywhere else for that matter.  Lord, yesterday I met one of Your new converts in Arleta Assembly of God Church.  Derrick was not just an alcoholic, he was a Meth addict and his face still shows the devastating marks of that life.  But in spite of those marks, he is beautiful... now saved, baptized in water and 8 months sober and the happiest guy in the church.  Lord Jesus, You are so good at the miracle of braking chains of addiction!  Please take good care of my brother, Derrick.  I want to hug his neck again in Your heaven.  Amen.

Ralph