Burn Incense. Here’s Why!

This biblical practice can undo years of negligence when we...

Author

Steven Pawley
October 25, 2025

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Enjoy today’s read!

Their family meeting was intense, and the stakes were high. She was young, cutting herself and we needed to know why. She pointed to her parents and said, it’s them.

Her family was imploding, and some scars of parental negligence can’t be hidden.

Whether it’s home life, work, personal disciplines or spiritual life, neglect can become a serious matter. The generation before us can let us down and make it hard to recover.

So, what can we do? 2 Chr. 29:1-10 sets the stage for something we can all do when we need a remedy from those who are negligent.

Hezekiah is a young man who inherited his wicked father’s kingdom and neglect. He calls an important meeting, identifies the cause of the present problems, but also the solution:

2 Chr. 29:11 offers four things can bring revival and great benefits. Let’s break it down:

First, stand before the Lord. Getting before God rests solely on Jesus’ finished work (Heb. 4:16). But you’re going to have to stand up and make some hard choices (1 Cor. 16:13).

Second, serve the Lord. There’s a thousand ways to do so. But many don’t because of negligence. Two choices only on the shelf, serve God or serve self (Lk 16:13-15)!

Here’s a good place to start when busyness gets you off balance (Lk. 10:39).

Third, remember you’re in the “ministry” (2 Cor. 5:18-20, 1 Pet. 2:5). Every believer is in the ministry of reconciliation, serving the word to others, and offering spiritual sacrifices.

Think praise, gratitude, generosity, spiritual disciplines and sacrificial advancement of the gospel. But also, denying self, sin, and following the ways of Jesus without apology.

And then there’s this: Burn incense. What’s that all about?! Well, this biblical practice can undo years of negligence. Incense was obligatory (1 Chr. 23:13). It still is.

Not the store-bought stuff.

Incense became representative of an odor sent up into God’s presence. It was a holy and beautiful thing. Your prayers are like that; and God stores them for later use!

Rev. 5:8 says these odors are the prayers of the saints. Your prayers! My prayers! Look what God does with them In Rev. 8:1-5.

Keep praying my friend, answers are on the way, perhaps even with fire, censer, and all.

Some negligence leaves scars but it can be forgiven and an opportunity to do better going forward. Who knows, God might even use it to bring revival, just ask Hezekiah.

None of us want to hear the next generation say, it’s them. Where can you take a stand, serve, minister to the Lord and pray? “Be not negligent” is the wise person’s response.

Instead of thinking only of things to add (that gets overwhelming), ask God what you might give up in order to become available and responsive to the needs around you.

I’ve added some places you can ask God to help you dig around in the GO DEEPER section. Let me know your thoughts. I’m cheering for you 😊

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If You Would Like to GO DEEPER with Today’s Message:

Proverbs 24:30-34 is a sobering gut check on the price of neglect.

Go a little deeper today by asking God’s Holy Spirit to make you aware of areas you may be negligent or just a little lazy and in need of some maintenance. You can ask:

· Where can I be more responsible or responsive to my marriage? What does my spouse need from me that I’m withholding or unaware? How can I be more generous toward them?

· What conversations do I need to have with my children? When have we last sat together and talked so I can hear their concerns, needs, and desires?

· Where might I need to take a stand and say “no” or “yes”? Is there a need around me that calls for someone to stand up (Ezek. 22:30, Psa. 24:1-6, Eph. 6:10-18)?

· In what areas of my life is materialism or the pursuit of more crowding out the more important things like time with God, building healthy relationships and community? (Phil. 4:10-13, Rom. 12:1-2, James 1:5-8). Study the context of Josh. 24:1-14, 15.

· The question in 1 Chron. 29:5 is worth pondering. In what areas can you adjust to be of more service at home, church, work or your neighbors?

· Regarding prayer, here’s a splash of cold water wakeup call from Leonard Ravenhill to think about and allow to search your own prayer life:

“Poverty stricken as the Church is today in many things, she is most stricken here, in the place of prayer. We have many organizers, but few agonizers; many players and payers, but few prayers; many singers, few clingers; lots of pastors, but few wrestlers; many fears, few tears; much fashion, little passion; many interfereres, few intercessors; many writers but few fighters. Failing here, we fail everywhere.”

What did God reveal? 2 Chron. 29 offers lots of ideas to get you started. Pick one and go for it!

Cheering for you!

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