Remember...your T-shirt

Pixabay
Remember...your T-shirt.

Back a few years ago WWJD wristbands were in vogue (that's "What Would Jesus Do?" for those of you who don't remember!). The idea was that the wearer would be reminded to ask him or herself that question when faced with any important decision that needed making.

Baseballs caps, T-shirts, jewelry, coffee cups and an assortment of other items emblazoned with Christian sayings are all popular with Christians who want to display a message to others, or simply remind themselves of spiritual truths (sometimes spiritual, not always true) in a more public manner.

This idea of carrying around your Christianity is not a new one.

Back in Old Testament times, God instructed His people to provide themselves with visible reminders of whose they were and how they were to live. For example, take this passage from Numbers 15:

The Lord said to Moses, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord your God.'" (vss. 37-41).

I have a coffee cup on which is engraved this phrase: "I got this. —God." It does serve to remind me at the beginning of the day that whatever is to follow as the hours march on is under the control of Someone greater than I am.

It is true that wearing a "Christian" T-shirt or displaying a "Christian" bumper sticker doesn't guarantee anything, especially if you verbally abuse the clerk in the grocery store or cut someone off in traffic. Godly character is not the product of outward appearance but the result of inward Spirit-driven change. However, it's not a bad idea to surround ourselves with visible reminders of whose we are and how we are to live. For the Israelites the reminder via the tassels on their clothing was important in keeping the instructions the Lord had given to them at the forefront of their minds. And we are no different. The Lord knows we need reminding.

Most of us can use all the help we can get.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Staying Put and Moving On

The Case of the Pilfering Peacock

Worry Walks Alone