Today I read 2 Chronicles 26 which tells the story of King Uzziah who was blessed by the Lord and then pretty much spit in God's face. King Uzziah was blessed by the Lord when he went to war and by conquering his enemies. However, afterwards, the king did that which was forbidden for him to do. He went into the temple and offered incense to the Lord, an act that is only permitted for a Priest of the house of Aaron, or someone with the Aaronic Priesthood. As a result, he was struck with leprosy.
As I was reading this, I couldn't help but wonder why he thought just because the Lord helped him win some battles, that he could perform ordinances that he knew for sure he wasn't supposed to do? Why do people make the mistake of thinking they are the exception to the commandments, or the rules? Why do Latter-day Saints, or other Christian denominations even, hear a commandment and completely disregard it? Whether we say to ourselves that it doesn't apply to us or not? If we have no intention of following it, then we are doing just that, whether we say the words in our mind or not.
I hope all of you who might read this understand that there are no exceptions to following the commandments, not a single one. Remind yourselves why Jesus was baptized. There are a couple of reasons, but not the least of which, was because it was a commandment of our Heavenly Father. Jesus Himself taught that a man must be born of water and the Spirit or we cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, and that went for Himself also. There are no exceptions to the commandments, all are subject to them, and if we one day hope to be as God is, then we have to obey them just as He does. It is a lesson we should all learn early and learn well. Until tomorrow.
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