Early last year we decided to make some gowns for the children’s choir at the church. One day I got in my hand a white envelope with a picture on the outside of showing how the gowns look. But what was on the inside was even more important. As I opened the envelope and took out what looked like brown wrapping paper, I was immediately told that that was the PATTERN for the gowns. Because we were dealing with such a large number of children and at least 4 different seamstresses, it was important to ensure that all of the gowns were made in the same style. With the PATTERN in hand we were assured of uniformity. The gowns for the children would all be made from the same material and would all look the same way because we had a PATTERN. Now it was up to us to ensure that everybody would FOLLOW the PATTERN. Our FF for today is FOLLOW GOD’S PATTERN.
Some people have a hard time if they’re expected to FOLLOW a PATTERN. A PATTERN suggests that there’s a model that has already been set. A PATTERN is a sample that’s there to be seen. It is giving us an example of what is to be done and how it is to be done. A PATTERN is a guide that sets us the course that’s to be FOLLOWED. It’s not easy to FOLLOW GOD’S PATTERN. As human beings we tend to always have an opinion and somehow believe that our opinion is of great value. So we can feel that if we FOLLOW GOD’S PATTERN, it will cramp our style and crush our individuality. Why FOLLOW GOD’S PATTERN if we can do it another way, we believe, and get the same or even better results? Why FOLLOW GOD’S PATTERN we ask, after all we’re not robots? Why imitate GOD’S PATTERN when we have enough brain power to be original thinkers?
But if we are honest with ourselves, we can’t miss the wreckage that’s all around us of persons who chose not to FOLLOW GOD’S PATTERN and who instead did things their own way. Their lives too are a demonstration of the power of a PATTERN. Their shipwrecked lives reveal that at the end of it all, what we make of our lives is dependent on the kind of PATTERN we choose to FOLLOW. There were many other PATTERNS for children’s robe, but we had chosen to FOLLOW the PATTERN that was given to us. Much of what we do is the result of the PATTERN which someone would have shown to us and which we then decided to FOLLOW. Some of the habits that we have today, whether good or bad, are the results of us choosing to FOLLOW a particular PATTERN. And now as adults we too are setting a PATTERN too for others to also FOLLOW. So we’re doing two things at the same time – FOLLOWING a PATTERN while setting a PATTERN for others to FOLLOW. In the process we are challenged to make sure that we FOLLOW GOD’S PATTERN.
The wise, all-knowing Creator GOD has established some divine PATTERNS that when FOLLOWED add untold blessings to our lives. GOD’S PATTERNS have been given to us by GOD for our own good. When we decide to PATTERN our lives after GOD’S PATTERNS which have been plainly laid out in the Bible, we are blessed and not cursed. We are truly living and not just existing. There are more than enough evidence of persons who chose not to FOLLOW GOD’S PATTERN and the direction their lives took. But when we FOLLOW GOD’S PATTERN our lives become like the city that is located on a hill. We become like the candle that is lit and not covered over. When we choose to FOLLOW GOD’S PATTERN then we in turn become GOD’S PATTERN for others to FOLLOW. So today I encourage you to FOLLOW GOD’S PATTERN. I testify it works!
Mikie Roberts (Rev)
Here’s the link for the blog. Join in the discussions.
http://moravians.net/serendipity/index.php?/categories/1-Friday-Focus
(P.S. The repeating of previous FF submissions for the summer will begin in August, not July.)
