A Visual Reminder
Reading: Numbers 15
My Verse: "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" (15:39).
This is an interesting concept - to have a visual reminder of You, LORD God. How well You know us - our failings, our tendencies to "follow after (our) own heart and (our) own eyes."
You ordered the Isrealites to "make fringes or tassels on the corners in the borders of their garments throughout their generations and put upon the fringe of the borders or upon the tassel of each corner a cord of blue." This was so they would have something to look at to help them to remember You. "That you may remember and do all My commandments and be holy to your God" (15:40).
This makes me think of when the Israelites rebelled and built the golden calf so they would have a visible god to worship. Is this why we are warned to be careful what we view with our eyes? We have this awful tendency to"follow after" and "whore after" the things which we want and see with our eyes. We also seem to need like the Israelites something tangible before our eyes - to give us something to "look" at!
You, LORD God, know and understand us. You know our needs - especially this need of something tangible to view - this need of a visual reminder. Because of that You provided us much in this way - we just need to know where to look. A knowledge of You is required in order to appreciate that You are everywhere before us.
I was once out gazing at the stars with another person. It was so incredibly beautiful and I was just in awe of Your grandeur. This other person was rather amazed that I could see so much beauty in the sky. She said it was just the sky. She did not know You and so her vision was clouded and so limited. I felt sad for her and so grateful to You for opening my eyes to You!
I think of Your grandeur in the great paintings, such as the Michelangelo's great works, and Da Vinci, Rembrandt. I think of Your grandeur when I view the heavens, especially the photos that come from the Hubble. I think of Your grandeur when I view the incredible intricacies of Your creation under powerful microscopes. I think of Your grandeur when I view the amazing symmetry and beauty of flowers in my garden. Yes, You are everywhere visible to our eye!
"I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless" (Psalm 101:3). Only what is beautiful and worthy of You, dear LORD Jesus! As it says in Philippians 4:8 only what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable are we to think and meditate on!
I know that I need You to open the eyes of my heart to You. Paul prayed this in Ephesians 1:18
"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened..."
The psalmist prayed this in Psalm 119:18. "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law."
Yes, the visual reminders are everywhere before me, I just pray LORD God that You keep my eyes open to them. I pray that I not be blinded by things which are not of you.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Reading: Numbers 15
My Verse: "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" (15:39).
This is an interesting concept - to have a visual reminder of You, LORD God. How well You know us - our failings, our tendencies to "follow after (our) own heart and (our) own eyes."
You ordered the Isrealites to "make fringes or tassels on the corners in the borders of their garments throughout their generations and put upon the fringe of the borders or upon the tassel of each corner a cord of blue." This was so they would have something to look at to help them to remember You. "That you may remember and do all My commandments and be holy to your God" (15:40).
This makes me think of when the Israelites rebelled and built the golden calf so they would have a visible god to worship. Is this why we are warned to be careful what we view with our eyes? We have this awful tendency to"follow after" and "whore after" the things which we want and see with our eyes. We also seem to need like the Israelites something tangible before our eyes - to give us something to "look" at!
You, LORD God, know and understand us. You know our needs - especially this need of something tangible to view - this need of a visual reminder. Because of that You provided us much in this way - we just need to know where to look. A knowledge of You is required in order to appreciate that You are everywhere before us.
I was once out gazing at the stars with another person. It was so incredibly beautiful and I was just in awe of Your grandeur. This other person was rather amazed that I could see so much beauty in the sky. She said it was just the sky. She did not know You and so her vision was clouded and so limited. I felt sad for her and so grateful to You for opening my eyes to You!
I think of Your grandeur in the great paintings, such as the Michelangelo's great works, and Da Vinci, Rembrandt. I think of Your grandeur when I view the heavens, especially the photos that come from the Hubble. I think of Your grandeur when I view the incredible intricacies of Your creation under powerful microscopes. I think of Your grandeur when I view the amazing symmetry and beauty of flowers in my garden. Yes, You are everywhere visible to our eye!
"I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless" (Psalm 101:3). Only what is beautiful and worthy of You, dear LORD Jesus! As it says in Philippians 4:8 only what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable are we to think and meditate on!
I know that I need You to open the eyes of my heart to You. Paul prayed this in Ephesians 1:18
"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened..."
The psalmist prayed this in Psalm 119:18. "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law."
Yes, the visual reminders are everywhere before me, I just pray LORD God that You keep my eyes open to them. I pray that I not be blinded by things which are not of you.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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