A Tassel with Blue Cord

As I was re-reading the Book of Numbers today a line struck a chord with me.  God instructed Moses to tell the Israelites to put a tassel, some translations say “fringe,” on the corners of their garments and in that tassel to place a blue cord or thread.   They were to do this so that when they saw it=--which would have been almost always as they dealt with each other and their own dressing on a daily basis, they would remember to keep the commandments of God which He had given them.  

What is your “tassel with a blue thread” that reminds you to keep the commandments of God?  As I thought about that, a number of things occurred to me.

First, I am glad to live under a New Covenant and not the Law of Moses.  Although we live under a covenant which still demands obedience to God, we are not required to “wear our religion on our sleeve” if you will.  

Second, it occurred to me that my reminder to be obedient to God is really Jesus—He is the example of perfect obedience to God to Whom we look as an example and as a reminder of our responsibility to be obedient to God.  

Third, do I need a “touchstone” of remembrance, a physical/visual reminder to obey the commands of God?   God does not require that in the New Testament even though God gives us some such “touchstones.”   The weekly observance of the Lord’s Supper is such a reminder to us of what our sins cost God and that God forgives our sins because of the death of Jesus and the shedding of His blood.  I am reminded that my sins are cleansed by Jesus’ blood when I am united with Him in baptism initially, based on faith and repentance, and I am cleansed by His blood continually as I “walk in the light” (1 John 1:6-10).  

Fourth, I HAVE a touchstone—it is my Bible.  God’s Word is now in written form for me to put in my pocket either in print or electronically (I use my phone for reading the Bible as well as an iPad and a laptop computer) so at any time I can visually look at this reminder and then look within its pages to actually see what those commandments are.  

Fifth, as I see Jesus living in others I see the “tassel with the blue thread” in the righteous acts of His saints and I am reminded of my own need for such righteous living.  

Sixth, I remember that MY devotion to keeping the commands of God is my own “wearing” of the tassel with a blue thread so that I might benefit others.  Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify you.”   NO, that isn’t what Jesus said.  “Let your light shine before others that they may see your good works AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.”   Then MY “tassel with the blue thread” is a true reminder to others of the importance of keeping the commandments of God.  What comes next in the text is absolutely frightening.  But that becomes another story.     Jimmy

_{Taking the Offense (without being offensive)}

_{You football fans know the benefit of having a good offense all the while recognizing that without a good defense you’ll be clobbered by the other team as they put more points on the board than your offense does.  In the life of the Christian, we need a good defense but we also need to be on offense—without being offensive.  As we live for the Lord, we want to let our lights shine that others will see our good works and glorify God (Matt. 5).  We want to properly “adorn” the doctrine of God—make God’s doctrines/teachings look good to others (Titus 2:10).  That’s us being on the offense.  Doing good things, presenting Christianity as we live it—using our lips as we have opportunity (Go into all the world and preach the gospel—Mark 16:15).}

_{Having a good defense means that we know what we know and why we know it.  Paul said, “I am appointed for the defense of the gospel” (Phil. 1:16).  Peter, in 1 Peter 3:15, told believers to be prepared always “to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you.” The context here is similar to Paul’s later epistles and to Luke’s writings: non-Christians are slandering the behavior of Christians and threatening them with persecution (1 Pet. 3:13-17; 4:12-19). When challenged or even threatened, Christians are to behave lawfully, maintain a good conscience, and give a reasoned defense of what they believe to anyone who asks.  Why do you believe what you believe?  How well do you know the Word of God?   Is it True?  How do you demonstrate that to others?   Is it authoritative?   Do you—and shouldn’t others—obey it?   Preparing ourselves for these events is part of what draws us together in our assemblies for Bible study and worship.  We learn ourselves and we teach one another in those settings.  The upcoming "Defending the Faith" Conference this church is hosting is an excellent way to learn to be on the offense without being offensive.}  

_{Defending THE Faith is something we are always to do; even “contend” for it (Jude 3).  That’s being on the offense.  Carry the ball–take the truth–to the world.  Engage the enemy (Satan) by knowing God’s Word and speaking it, teaching it to those who need it most.  As Paul said, “speaking the Truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15).}

_{May God bless us and bless the lives of others as we live out His Word, as we teach that Word faithfully, and as we demonstrate His amazing love and mercy and grace in the process.}

_{Jimmy E. Gaston}

In a community meeting about homelessness, I listened to a speaker imploring that all of us determine

what we can do to house the homeless, doing “what it takes.” I remember Andy Griffith on a Matlock

episode defending a client who was quoted as saying that she would get back at her husband “whatever

it takes.” Matlock was reminded of his own mother who said that she was going to get her son to clean

up his room “whatever it takes” and he said, “I don’t think she meant to kill me.”

“Whatever it Takes” is a fascinating phrase and it applies in so many areas of life. “I’m going to get my

husband to love me ‘whatever it takes’”! “You’re going to take better care of those kids ‘whatever it

takes’”! “I’ll get these employees to do their work well ‘whatever it takes’”! Examples are endless.

God’s love for the world and His knowledge that sin would enter the world and separate man from

Himself produced the “whatever it takes” for God—the ultimate sacrifice of His own Son, Jesus—God in

the flesh—who died on the cross for the sins of the world. God’s love for us was demonstrated in His

providing “what it takes” for us to have fellowship with Him, for us to be His children (cf. 1 John 3:1ff).

How much do we love God back? Would we not, in effect, commit to God that we will love Him back

“whatever it takes”? “Whatever it takes” to demonstrate love for God we will do because we love God

“because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

What DOES it take to demonstrate love for God? Isn’t worship a demonstration of love for God? The

entire process of bowing before the Lord Who loved us and is our King and Redeemer and Provider . . .

that is worship. And such worship is proper if we honor the way God said we should worship

Him—singing His praises, giving ourselves—time, money, talent, etc.—to Him, learning from His Word,

remembering the death of Jesus in partaking of the Lord’s Supper every first day of the week (Acts 20:7),

praying always with an attitude of thanks giving (Philippians 4:4-7).

Isn’t our obedience to God a demonstration of love for Him? Jesus said to His disciples, “Anyone who

loves Me will keep my Word/commands” (John 14:15). “And having been perfected, He (Jesus) became

the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9). One cannot love the Lord and not

obey Him. And one who is merely going through the motions of doing what the Lord says without love

isn’t truly demonstrating worship or obedience—because obedience to the Lord is part of our worship,

our honoring of Him (cf. 1 Corinthians 13).

“Whatever it Takes”—we will love the Lord and honor Him and encourage all others to do the same!

Jimmy Gaston​