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Day 49 or February 18. If you don't mean it, don't say it.

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Our thought today is rooted in Numbers chapter 30 verse 2. When a man makes a vow to the

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Lord, or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word, but

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must do everything he said. The big picture surrounding this verse. God wants his people

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to be a holy nation, a nation set apart. Keeping his festivals and making the right

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offerings were all part of making Israel distinctively different to all the other nations around.

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He gives them many reminders of his goodness in festivals, such as Passover and the Day

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of Atonement. Most of these had a celebratory element in them, as well as the more serious

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reminder of their responsibility to a faithful God who has kept his word throughout history,

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and in return wants us to do the same. The Book of Numbers teaches a wonderful social

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quality of life that could have astounded the godless tribes around. Sadly, the Israelites

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didn't always keep the rules God gave them, and as a result they missed out every time.

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And now our action step. You can't read the Bible for long before you become very

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aware that God wants you and me to be faithful devoted followers and not fans. He made us

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in his image and he wants us to be like him. In the Bible we have reminders of various

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levels of involvement. Whenever we eat a full English breakfast, we are reminded too. Look

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at the egg, that reminds us that the hen was involved. Look at the bacon, that confirms

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that the pig was totally committed. The Book of Numbers stresses the need for total commitment,

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and reminds us that a promise is a promise, so don't make them lightly. Be true and

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straight, speaking the truth and keeping your word. Mark Twain said, Always tell the truth,

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and you don't need to remember what you said. Of course we are not to tell the truth

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just because there's a rule that says so. We should tell the truth because it's the

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right thing to do, and God expects it, and society will be all the better for it.