How can we "bind them as a sign" in our daily lives today? The Command in Context “These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. Teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.” What “Bind Them as a Sign” Meant Then - Literal phylacteries placed Scripture on hand and forehead (Exodus 13:9; Matthew 23:5). - God’s word visibly governed every deed (hand) and every thought (forehead). - The sign declared covenant allegiance to onlookers. Why the Command Still Matters - God’s word is unchanging (Isaiah 40:8). - The New Covenant still writes the law on hearts while seeking outward testimony (Jeremiah 31:33; Revelation 14:1). - Obedience brings blessing (James 1:25). Binding on Our Hands: Scripture Directing Every Action • Begin each task with a verse that frames that activity (Colossians 3:17). • Wear wristbands, watch faces, or bracelets engraved with Scripture. • Post verse cards at workstations, dashboards, kitchen counters—anywhere hands labor. • Turn service opportunities into conscious acts of Word-guided hands (James 1:22). • Teach children to link chores with verses on diligence and kindness (Proverbs 12:24; Ephesians 4:32). Binding on Our Foreheads: Scripture Guarding Every Thought • Memorize and rehearse verses at waking, commuting, and bedtime (Psalm 119:11). • Set phone lock screens and computer wallpapers to passages you’re learning. • Use commute or exercise time for audio Bible, letting the Word frame the day (Romans 12:2). • Replace anxious thoughts with spoken promises (Philippians 4:6-8). • Keep an open Bible in a high-traffic place at home as a constant mental cue. Physical Reminders That Help - Scripture art on walls, mirrors, fridge magnets (Deuteronomy 6:9). - Key rings or lanyards with verse tags. - Calendar alerts that pop up a verse at noon each day. - Family “verse of the week” shared at meals. Living Letters Read by Others “You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone… not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” When deeds (hands) and thoughts (forehead) display Scripture, people encounter Christ through us. Passing the Sign to the Next Generation - Recite Scripture during walks, drives, and bedtime, mirroring verse 7. - Let children craft simple wristbands or headbands with verses they’re learning. - Model decision making that begins with “What does God’s Word say?” Closing Thoughts Binding God’s words as a sign today means deliberately letting Scripture govern what we do and how we think, so the covenant we cherish becomes visible to a watching world. |
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