The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God. 2 Samuel 6:7

In places of extreme high honor, people are expected to act with good honor and respect. When a person is meeting with a high-level dignitary, either in the government or a business, they are expected to dress and act in certain ways. It brings honor and respect to those whom it is due. Doing or saying anything out of place will often get them quickly removed and possibly more.

As the ark of the covenant was brought back to Israel, Uzzah touched it, a forbidden act. God became angry and struck him down for that irreverent act.

During the Old Testament times, the ark of the covenant was the place of God’s dwelling among the people. Since Jesus came the place of God’s dwelling has changed. It is no longer with the ark of the covenant, but in the hearts and lives of people.

Sins of a person are taken away so that he can be holy and set apart for God and be a place for God to dwell within. God has made a new covenant with each person and written His laws upon their hearts just as the ten commandments were placed in the ark of the covenant.

Although believers are now to be holy and treated as such, many will treat it with irreverent acts. They mar and harm the body in ways that disrespects what God has done in their lives.

Not only is this the case for their physical bodies, but it is also the same with the body of Christ, the church. There is disrespect for leaders in the church. Believers are to treat all things of God with respect and not as the world does.

God has placed Himself and His things in your life and all around you. As a believer, you are now the dwelling place for God. You must be willing to treat yourself and those things and people He has placed in your life with reverence.

Do not allow yourself to be like the world and treat your life and others with disrespect and irreverent acts. Although God may not strike you down dead, He may lift His hand of favor off of your life with these acts.

Live holy as God is holy.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know what God has placed in your life that is His; that you will know God is dwelling inside of you; and that you will treat the things of God with respect and honor.