THE BASIC PATTERN

Read Isaiah 61:10-11

Do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. Romans 13:14

When I was 12 years old, all the girls in our grade were required to take a sewing class. We were assigned three items to make: an apron, a short blouse with no buttons, and a skirt with a simple closure. For each item, everyone followed the same pattern.

As the school year ended, girls all over campus were wearing the blouses and skirt they had made, but the shared pattern was not easily recognized. Some had made their blouses of print fabric that coordinated with solid colored skirts. Others had made their garments of fabrics that did not coordinate. Still others had trimmed their apparel with lace and other decorations. My mother had suggested I make both garments from the same solid blue fabric so I could wear them together as a two-piece dress. The clothes look different on everyone.

Something similar occurs in Christianity. Those of us who accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior are expected to follow basic guidelines such as the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule. (Exod. 20:1-17; Deut. 5:6-21, and Matt. 7:12). Although we follow the example of Jesus, Christianity looks different on each of us. We may wear it differently, but it still fits each one of us. Today I will look past the differences among Christians to focus on the similarities.

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for providing the pattern for salvation so that we may be clothes in righteousness and wrapped in your love. Amen

Jesus is coming! Are you ready?