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Remembering to Obey

Remembering to obey God's Instructions is good. Professing believers are to cling to God's Word. It is His personal message to us. Our only rule for faith and practice.

Numbers‬ ‭15:37-41‬ tells us that God had the Israelites put blue cords on the corners of their clothes to remind them to follow God and obey His instructions rather than their own hearts.

My favorite color is blue, but God has not told followers of Jesus to put blue strings on their clothes. But He still instructs us to remember His instructions and not follow our own hearts. Our hearts lead us astray into sin but His Word never will. As 2 Timothy 3:14-17 tells us, it is our Holy Spirit inspired and applied lifeline. The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God in the lives of the people of God (those who follow Jesus Christ) for the glory of God.

Blue cords aside, what helps you remember to obey God's instructions?

What helps me remember to obey God's Instructions are these 4 primary built-in reminders:

1. The Holy Spirit.

First and foremost God reminds me to read His Word. He has given it to us and I am a follower of Christ. Why wouldn't I want to make the Bible a huge part of my life? It's non-negotiable. As Romans 8:26 says about those in Christ, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." If I acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord then what He says must come before everything. I must make attending to that relationship my first priority in life.

2. My Needy Wandering Heart.

Like you, my heart is prone to wander away to some of the most ridiculous and destructive idols. But if I am not walking close to Jesus and hearing the Word often it is very easy to stray. I like to tell the church I am privileged to lead that we need God's Word every day because we leak. So in one sense I cannot get enough of God's Word.

3. My Family and Friends.

The people God has put in my life are a constant reminder that I need God and His Word. Why? Because as a Christian, husband, father, pastor/elder, neighbor, friend, etc. if I want to have anything of value to give to people I need to be walking very closely with Jesus. And you can't walk closely with Jesus without listening to and obeying the Word of God.

4. My Bibles.

God has provided and preserved His Word for us. It's rare today to find someone who doesn't have access to the Bible even in many remote places in the world. I have been carrying a Bible around with me for the past 34 years. It has become a constant companion. Whether a leather-bound paper-paged version or an electronic one. Just the fact that I have one reminds me that I need to use it. And electronic Bible apps such as the YouVersion Bible app where I can set reminders are extremely helpful too in a very practical way. Do you know where your Bible is?

I hope what I have said encourages you to recognize God's built-in reminders to obey God's instructions today and every day. God bless you.

"The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner. And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the Lord your God.”” (Numbers‬ ‭15:37-41‬, ESV)

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy‬ ‭3:14-17‬, ESV‬‬)

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