Have you ever caught yourself finishing up your time of worship by wondering what’s next on the “to-do” list? Or still harboring hurts over something that was said or done to you recently or in the past? Do you ever leave feeling the need to critique the music, the message, or the man? Have you ever caught yourself  going through the ritual forgetting WHO you’re there to worship? I will admit there have been times in the past when I probably could’ve been found guilty of all the above.

“Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: Throughout the generations to come you must make tassels for the hems of your clothing and attach them with a blue cord. When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the Lord instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do. The tassels will help you remember that you must obey all my commands and be holy to your God.” -Numbers 15:38-40

 

The first part of chapter 15 simply repeats certain laws God had already given, and planed to enforce, but they would also serve to remind them that even in the wilderness they were to live as those belonging to the land, even though for the time being they were excluded from it.

By obeying God's commandments, Israel would be set apart and consecrated to God, His holy people (v. 40). God's demand for faithfulness here spoke of the importance of Israel's relationship to Him. After all the greater you love someone the more you wish them to be kept from harm and given the best of everything. Therefore, it was more than an example of God saying, “Obey, because I said so.” It was based on their relationship to God: “Obey, because you are my people, and I am your God.”

 

The color blue was always the symbol of heavenly beauty and thus they were constantly reminded that they were under the direct government of God. 

The tassels attached with a blue cord, was to be a tangible reminder  that was to help them remember the one fact which they seemed to have forgotten when they had permitted the difficulties on the way to fill them with fear: They were His, His children, and He was their God. It was time to stop seeking after their own desires as though they were left on their own and begin looking to and trusting Him!

The iWorship devotion today included an excellent definition of worship from the former Archbishop of Canterbury William Temple (I added if as a photo in case you wished to save it) :

In other words to focus your thoughts and attentions on the One who is truly worthy! The Israelites were commanded to wear tassels in order to remember. Having an object or following special holy-day observances to help us remember really aren’t a bad idea at all, if they serve as an aid to keep us faithful to the One we owe everything to!

Do you keep visual reminders of God's Word around you at all times? Perhaps:

·         A piece of jewelry; necklace, ring of bracelet

·         Bibles set out to be seen

·         Scriptures posted throughout the house or on your desktop computer.

·         Or even a combination of some of the above.

As long as they remind us always that we belong to God and we need to obey Him, especially when our eyes and hearts are tempted by this world. 

Stop by Women in the Word today! I'm hoping to share something that has helped me to keep focused on Him and to be more of a daughter that pleases Him!