The Word of God gives us instruction on how to walk in the light of God.

Num 15:39  And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring. 

It is man’s nature to forget even if it’s God’s law. Some sins were committed unintentionally because of ignorance of God's laws. Therefore, God made provisions in His laws concerning unintentional sins (Numbers 15:22-31). In addition, He made provision for the prevention of such sins. This could be found in the fringes of the garments of the Israelites. The children of Israel were commanded to make fringes upon the borders of their garments, which were to be reminder to them of their duties that they might not sin through forgetfulness. Each time when they looked at the fringes, they would be reminded to keep the commandments of God: “that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring” (Numbers 15:39).

The sign is a piece of blue lace tied to the fringe on the corners of the garment. The size of these fringes is not prescribed. But we read that in our Lord’s time the Pharisees enlarged their fringes in order to exhibit openly their punctilious fulfilment of the law (Matthew 23:5). They made them broader than other people who wore them to show that they had special respect for the law. Their purpose was to feed their pride; an act which the Lord condemned.

A case of disobedience was found in the action of Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-2). Those two men offered strange fire to God which He had not commanded. In doing so, they walked after their own heart and eyes and despised the commandments of God.

Today, we need not make a special fringe on our garments. We have two gifts given to us to remind us to keep the commandments of God: (1) The Inspired Word of God. (2) The Name Christian.

1. THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD.

The bible is given to us for a purpose – that we may know God and do His commandments. It is a book given to us to study diligently so that we can rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). This inspired word is readily available to all men such that no one can have the excuse he is ignorant of the commandments of God (Psalm 119:11). A Christian can be perfect and be furnished unto all good works through knowing the scriptures (2 Timothy 3:17). Let us meditate on the word of God day and night that we may do His commandments (Psalm 1:2).

2. THE NAME CHRISTIAN.

The name Christian is a special name given by God (Acts 11:26). It is a name which reminds us that we are followers of Christ. The apostle Peter wrote: “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name” (1 Peter 4:16, ESV).

It is a name that speaks of a certain kind of behaviour. What kind of conduct does the world expect of a Christian? Loving, forgiving, kind, honest, patient, and peaceful. Are they wrong in expecting such good behaviour from us? No! Why? It is because we preach and teach love. We preach about God’s love and how we should love one another. Therefore, we must live a life of showing love for one another. The Christian name is a constant reminder that we must conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the name of Christ: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).

The Word of God gives us instruction on how to walk in the light of God. The name Christian reminds us to walk in the light. They are our reminders that we are to walk in God’s commandments. 

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

Korah, Dathan and Abiram

Num 16:3  And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD? 

                                                                                                                             

There was another rebellion against the leadership. Korah, Dathan and Abiram, were the leaders of this rebellion. They managed to garner two hundred and fifty men against Moses and Aaron. They complained that Moses had not only brought the congregation into a land "flowing with milk and honey," but he had also made himself a prince over the host, determining everything without consulting the heads of the tribes.

Korah, who was from the tribe of Levi, wanted the priesthood (verse 8-10). He wanted to hold the censer just like the priests. He was not contented to be servant to the priests. Perhaps, he considered the work of the Levites inferior as compared to the priesthood that Aaron and his sons had. He deemed it unfair that only Aaron and his two sons should have a position so much higher than the rest of the Levites.

Dathan and Abiram rejected the leadership of Moses. Even when they were summoned to gather to settle the issue, they refused to obey (verse 12).

The Aaronic priesthood was a divine choice. They had the approval from God. When they rebelled against the priesthood of Aaron, they were rebelling against God (verse 11). Moses was God’s chosen leader. When they rebelled against him, they were rebelling against God: “Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind ” (Numbers 16:28).

The ambition of Korah was the more to be blamed because he was himself a Levite, and entrusted with a special ministry in holy things. But being an ambitious man, he could not rest, so long as there was in the camp any one greater than him. Therefore, he organised a band of conspirators and rebelled.

In all ages, there were challenges to leadership by men who refused to submit. In the New Testament, we read of a man called Diotrephes who loved the pre-eminence and rejected John the apostle (3 John 1:9).

Today, in politics and in companies, we read of challenges to leadership. Therefore, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if it happen in the church. What should the members do when men speak up against an eldership of the church?

1. Recognise that it is rebellion against God’s authority (Numbers 16:11).

2. Recognise that it is wickedness and to have no part in it (Numbers 16:26).

3. Recognise that it originates from men who were proud and have their own agenda (Numbers 16:10).

4. Recognise that God hates rebellion and will punish the wicked doers (Numbers 16:32-33; 1 Samuel 15:23).

5. Recognise that our Lord was submissive and obedient to the Father (Philippians 2:8).

6. Recognise that the Christian way is to obey those who rule (Hebrews 13:17).

7. Recognise that God hates those who sow discord among brethren (Proverbs 6:19).

8. Recognise that the Christian way is love and make peace (Romans 14:19).

Rebellion is never right. Let us follow the example of Christ in His humility, love, and submission.

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

Afraid No More

 W.B. Davidson writes of an experience that he had as a child that taught him a lot about fear and faith:

When just a small child, I accompanied my father to see his mother, who lived about three miles from our home.  We remained longer than we should and night overtook us.  Between our home and grandmother's was a swamp and that night the frogs croaking and crickets chirping, together with the darkness and shadows of the trees, frightened me.

I inquired of my father if there were any danger of "something catching us," and he assured me there was no danger.  Soon I asked the same question again and received the same answer.  But my father saw I was frightened and he took me by the hand and said, “I will not allow anything to harm you.”  All my fears passed away and I was ready to face the world; for my father had me by the hand.

How like our Heavenly Father is this. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4).

The only thing that can separate us from God is our sin: “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2).

But God loves us so much that He gave His one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16).  Jesus paid the price for our redemption from sin so that we can be reconciled to Him (Ephesians 1:7).

God will save, add to His family, and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

And as long as we continue to cling to His hand in trusting obedience, God has promised: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

Won’t YOU cling to God’s extended hand in trusting obedience?

-- David A. Sargent