There is so much we could look at and talk about in Numbers 15:22-16:40. Theses verses really focus on hearts bent toward disobedience and the consequences to be had, but doesn't leave out the opportunity for forgiveness as well. In the middle of our reading in Numbers we find a group of verses that I feel are the glue to our faith, trust and obedience - to our lives and relationship with God - 15:37-41. The glue is found in tassels. In these verses the people of Israel were told to put tassels on the corners of their garments with a blue thread in each and to let them serve as reminders to the importance of remembering God's word. The idea was that when they put their clothes on in the morning, walked around during the day, felt the tassels rubbing on their legs, when they saw the tassels on the garments of others, when they took their garments off at night, at all times they would be living surrounded by theses reminders of the importance of reflecting and living in God's word.
Why is it so important for us to remember God's words, to be obedient to them and to live surrounded by them? It keeps our hearts in check. It keeps us from living pride filled, self seeking lives. It keeps us from making decisions that seem good and pleasing to our self seeking nature but that can bring harm, difficulty, or struggle instead. It keeps us from living in sin. It keeps us from being bad example for Christ, dim lights for God. God's word reminds us of the obedience we are to have but it also reminds us of the love, grace, power and forgiveness that is to be found in it as well. We are better able to live at peace with others during turbulent moments. We can live free of fear when we are facing uncertain or challenging moments. We can have joy during the days of sorrow. We find hope while living in what can feel like a hopeless world. We can live in contentment in a world that tells us we need and deserve more. It allows us to grow deeper in our intimate relationship with God and strengthen our hearts and minds in him so that we can live our lives to the fullest and to be examples to others - to let our tassels of faith be evident not just for us but for the benefit of others as well.
Perhaps we need to find tassels to put into our day, things that will draw us back to the Lord and to remember his truths when life begins to get busy and we begin to loose focus. Tie a string to your finger, put daily alerts into your phone, post index cards with verses in different spots reminding you, maybe leave your bible open or near you wherever you go. It could be different for each of us but we must be sure make sure that we are reminded to always seek and remember the truths of God's word in our lives.
Be encouraged with this, we have access to God's word in abundance but we also have a built in tassel - the Holy Spirit. John 14:26 says, "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." The more time we spend in the word the more truth we have to remember and lean on, the more spiritual fuel we give to the Holy Spirit to use, to remind us of, in our lives, our faith, and our relationship with the Lord. A bonus of the Holy Spirit (there are many actually) is not only does he remind us of the word, what God has spoken, but he also can empower us to live in obedience to it as well. Knowing and remembering God's word is one thing to live in obedience to it is another - but either way we are not left alone in the endeavor.
Don't give up on spending time with God through reading his word. It is a desperate need in our world today. Find your outward tassels and don't ignore your built in one. Our wisdom and faith will only increase and serve as a tassel to benefit those whom God puts in our lives.
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