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Numbers 15:39

³⁹And 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.

How many times have you heard someone say, "Let your heart lead you"? If your heart is to do the will of God, that can be a good thing (2Samuel 7:3). But in most cases our heart is what gets us in trouble. We are born with a propensity toward evil. Our eyes, like Eve's, cause us to lust after the forbidden (Genesis 3:6). That was why the Lord had the Israelites take the threads of their clothing and end it in a tassel. Orthodox Jews would make the tassel of 613 threads and tie them with five knots. Each thread was for an Old Testament law and each knot for a book of the Torah. This was the "fringe of His garment" that the woman with an issue of blood touched (Matthew 9:20).

The physical reminder was given to keep their hearts in the right place. The LORD used an illustrative term "inclined to whore after," to describe our hearts. We fall in love, or perhaps "lust" is a better word, with forbidden things. God's word tells us what is safe and wholesome and that is why we need reminders. They can steer our hearts and minds back in the right direction.

This is one function of the Holy Spirit in our lives today. He gently speaks to our hearts when they "whore after" things that are forbidden. We don't have the tassels today, but we should have other reminders that are constantly with us. Some carry a Bible or have Scripture handy as an electronic device app. Others wear some kind of symbol such as a cross or a fish. Better still, a routine of Bible reading, memorization, prayer and fellowship will guard our hearts. Do you have a reminder to keep your heart in check?

Consider: Even a new creation in Christ needs continual reminders to keep our hearts and minds in the Spirit. Are your reminders working for you, or do you need to add some additional ones?