Every Friday I join a community of bloggers for Five Minute Friday. One word prompt, five minutes. Unedited. The prompt this week is … Pattern.
I remember well the days of going to the fabric store to select a pattern, fabric, and other needed supplies to make my own clothes. While I never became as good at it as my aunt, sewing kept me busy and probably out of trouble.
Patterns were meant to be used repeatedly, so we would carefully fold the delicate paper in order to get it all back into the envelope in which it came.
“Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 1:13, NLT)
The word prompt and the Scripture bring to mind words read earlier this morning:
“What sets believers apart from the world is our attitude.”
“The world is watching.”
(from Praise: A Walk Through the Psalms by The Daily Grace Co., page 59)
There are those in all our lives who are watching. They want to see how we navigate and manage the challenges and stresses of our lives.
Pattern, as used in this verse and defined in the New Testament Lexical Aids, is “a delineation, a sketch, a concise representation or form, an example.”
Paul was confident in all he had taught to young Timothy. He instructs Timothy to use those same teachings as a model, a pattern, in his own ministry. Timothy would teach those same biblical doctrines but with the freedom to express it with his own personality, passing it on to those around him.
May we keep the pattern of sound teaching, using the pattern repeatedly to shape the lives of our children, grandchildren, and the ones around us. Our lives are the pattern they will need to see today so they will make the right choices tomorrow.
Another Bible version words the verse this way, shedding more light:
“Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” (NASB)
Are the words you have been taught ones that are sound? Then hold onto them, store them in your heart, and retain them.
The pattern we use determines what is developed and the outcome.
May we retain the pattern of sound teaching
for the world is watching.
Great post. I like how you tied in the paper patterns that are used for sewing and saved for use again. Yes, we want the pattern of faith to guide our children and grandchildren!
I have learned a bright new thing,
but I am a Scotsman, cheap,
and when a-3d printing,
I will gladly make the leap
to filament that’s next on sale,
to save, say, fifty cents,
and thus a pattern will prevail,
variety as recompense,
with yellow melding into blue,
and black neighbouring white;
deep purple is a lovely hue,
although one think it might
be better on its very own
rather than sitting next to brown.
“The pattern we use determines what is developed and the outcome.” So very true. We must each make sure the pattern we are using is true. The Word of God is a pattern that can never fail! Thanks for encouraging us today!
Lovely analogy, thank you
Your FMF neighbour @ #14
One of the things I struggled with … with pattern paper was, what if you needed to remake the pattern in a size larger or smaller? The pattern was the same but changing it for others required more work after you had cut out the initial pattern.
Makes me think of how hard it is to change the patterns of our lives once we develop a method of living out of lives. Even necessary changes to the pattern. FMF22
So true.
“There are those in all our lives who are watching. They want to see how we navigate and manage the challenges and stresses of our lives.” How true, Joanne. How true.