In the last issue, we read about how important it is to remember the Word of God. Without remembering it, we cannot take the next and most important step of obeying it. God on the other hand wants us to remember His teachings because they are our very life. He knows we will ultimately perish if we do not remember and obey them.
God was so concerned about His people that He went to the extent of commanding Moses to say to the people of Israel: "Make tassels on the corners of your garments and put a blue cord on each tassel. You are to do this for all time to come. The tassels will serve as reminders, and each time you see them you will remember all my commands and obey them; then you will not turn away from me and follow your own wishes and desires. The tassels will remind you to keep all my commands, and you will belong completely to me. (Numbers 15:38-40). Kindly note, that God’s purpose in urging the people to remember His commands and obey them was to ensure that they remain faithful to Him. But why were they required to remain faithful to Him? It was because He loved them and did everything to bring them out of Egypt so that He would be their God and they in turn would be His people. (Numbers 15:41).
Again, in the book of Deuteronomy, we find God urging His people not only to remember His commands but to teach them to their children as well… "Remember these commands and cherish them. Tie them on your arms and wear them on your foreheads as a reminder. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you are resting and when you are working.” (Deuteronomy 11:18-19). Please note here, that God not only wants His people to put the commands on their arms and foreheads, but He also wants them to talk about them wherever and whenever possible. In this way, the parents as well as the children would remember His commands.
Therefore, much of what God has spoken in the above verses indicates that even before obeying the commands, God wanted His people to remember them. The same applies to us too. God wants us to remember His commands and obey them so that we may belong to Him. He wants to be our God. He wants us to be His people. But do we remember His Word? How much trouble do we take to retain the Word of God? Do we teach it to our children? Do we talk about it in our homes? For that matter, do we even bring up the topic of God in our conversations with one another at home? Well, it all depends on how much we care about a God who has loved us and paid a heavy price so that we may belong to Him. As St. Peter writes… For you know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life handed down by your ancestors. It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold; it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw. (1 Peter 1:18-19). Isn’t this reason enough to remember God’s Word and obey it?
In the New Testament, we see Jesus having the same concern for His disciples. He wants them to remember His words and remain with Him. That is why He said to them, “I love you just as the Father loves me; remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in His love. (John 15:9-10). Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. (John 15:4). The love of Jesus must compel us to obey Him; and before that, it must compel us to remember His commands.
Unlike the case in the Old Testament, we do not have to make tassels on the corners of our clothing to remember God’s commands. We don’t have to tie the commands on our arms or wear them on our foreheads. Our Lord Jesus has made it much easier for us to remember His teachings. He has given us the Holy Spirit. To the disciples He said, “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you.” (John 14:26). Isn’t that what He did in the case of Jesus Himself? One best example of this is when Jesus was tempted by the devil in the desert. The Holy Spirit, who had descended upon Him at the River Jordan, enabled Him to counter the devil by using the right scripture at the right time. That is what the Holy Spirit does with us too. He helps us to fight temptations, He guides us in the decisions we make, He teaches us how we should go about our lives, etc. But He does it all by reminding us of what Jesus has told us; in other words, the Word of God.
Let us, therefore, make it our aim to read/listen to the Word of God, to remember it, to meditate on it, and finally to obey it. Let us teach it to our children. Let us talk about it at home and wherever we are. Let us always be attentive to the Holy Spirit as He will remind us of the right Word at the right time.