The Master Pattern
Here we are in the month of December, celebrating Jesus’ birthday! I’m so glad He came to earth to be our Saviour. He not only showed us how to live, He also showed us how to live above sin. He is our Master Pattern, which is a foundational pattern from which every copy is made.
“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.”
1 Peter 2:21–23
Before we began our full-time ministry, I worked for my father-in-law. He was a wonderful boss, and he owned a company that built storage buildings. There were quite a few employees over the years, and a master pattern was highly important in keeping every building true to the original design.
Looking Unto Jesus
As we look to our Master Pattern, we must remember that He is the Word. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Sadly, people are turning to new versions of the Bible whose texts are far from the original. The blood is being removed from the Scriptures, and many passages are either absent or watered down. Revelation 22:19 says, “And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (A warning we should take very seriously.)
Jesus is our pattern of prayer. Over the years, we’ve heard new Christians ask, “What am I supposed to say when I pray?” Jesus gave us a model prayer:
“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”
Matthew 6:9-13:
He showed us how to pray again when we don’t get results from the first prayer. (Praying for the blind man again in Mark 8:25.) Jesus showed us obedience to the Father’s will. He prayed, “Not my will but thine be done,” in Matthew 26:39. He taught us how to be a servant as He washed His disciples’ feet.
Christ-Like
As Christians, we look to Jesus as our pattern. But to the world, we are the pattern for Christianity. We are supposed to be Christ-like, but are we sending a confusing message? Do we conduct ourselves with honesty? It reminds me of something that happened to me many years ago.
In my twenties, I worked as an inspector for a company that produced parts for fighter planes. If an item did not meet the required specs, I put a red “rejection” tag on it. One day, after some parts were inspected, my supervisor came to me and asked why I had rejected certain ones. I explained that they didn’t meet government standards, but he told me to just pass them on through. When I told him my conscience would not let me do that, he replied, “Oh, David, just do it a few times and you won’t feel bad about it anymore.” I knew I might lose my job, but the Master Pattern was my guide. I praise Him for helping me stay true to my convictions. Afterwards, my boss favored me in ways that made it clear he truly respected my honesty.
Be The Pattern
Some of you have probably heard of “Uncle Bud” Robinson, a well-respected preacher born in 1860. Uncle Bud grew up with a very abusive dad. The children would run and hide when he came in from making moonshine. When Bud was about ten, he walked many miles through the mountains to spend the night with a friend. He finally arrived around suppertime, and he was shocked at all the food on the table! When everyone was seated, the father asked the blessing, then began serving the plates. The food looked so good that Bud secretly wanted to save it and take it back home to his family.
After supper, the family moved into a sitting room. Buddie noticed that the parents spoke kindly to each other and smiled as the children played games. Before bedtime, they all sat around the fireplace while the father read a chapter from the Bible. Then the father went to each child and prayed over them individually, including little Bud. The father prayed that God would save Bud and make him a blessing to the world. It was a prayer that God answered!
As Buddie walked back over the mountain the next day, he made up his mind that when he grew up, he was going to be like his friend’s father. Bud saw Jesus, the Master Pattern, shining out of this man’s life, and it impacted him for eternity.
As we enter into this Christmas season, let’s take another look at our Master Pattern. From the manger, and all the way to Calvary, Jesus showed us how to live a Godly Christian life. Let’s make up our minds to be that godly pattern to those around us. Merry Christmas, everyone! God bless you all!