When I was a girl my mother made all of our clothes by hand. She was, and still is, a talented seamstress. My clothes rivaled and surpassed any store bought clothes you could find AND I always had an original—a couture piece.
My Tuesday morning Bible study group is doing the revised version of Beth Moore’s “A Woman’s Heart, God’s Dwelling Place” and I am loving every single minute of it. Now mind you, this is the 2nd time I have done the revised version and the third time I have done this study in any version. The Old Testament tabernacle, a couture piece in every sense of the word, is fascinating and gives such a complete picture of the person and work of Jesus Christ that I just sit in awe of the majesty of God.
In Exodus 25: 8-9 Moses pens these words: “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.” One version says, “according to the pattern I will show you.”
Last night those words kept going through my mind as I slept, and I awoke thinking about them this morning. “According to the pattern I will show you”. There is great depth and wealth in those words.
How often do I try to live my life my own way, when in reality, God has already given me a pattern for living? He told us we are to live His way, following His laws and precepts, modeling our lives after Christ. Why don’t I get it through my head that God’s way is best?
Our lives should truly be “couture” pieces, knit together according to the pattern He designed. One-of-a-kind lives, fashioned by the Master Designer. We should not try to live our lives after the pattern that this world gives us. Instead, our lives should show a vibrant faith in God, a trusting of His heart, and a willingness to walk in His way. The fruit of love, joy, peace, patience (I really need this one), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control should be spilling out all over those we encounter. We should see others through the eyes of Christ and love them the way He does.
Is my life being lived according the plan that HE designed? Is your life being lived according to His pattern? The life of Jesus provides the perfect pattern for our lives. The question then becomes: are we willing to follow that pattern?
