The Basic Pattern

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

As the school year ended, girls all over the school were wearing the blouses and skirts they had made, but the shared pattern was not easily recognisable. Some had made their blouses of printed fabric that coordinated with solid-colour skirts. Others had made their garments of fabrics that did not coordinate. Still others had trimmed theirs with lace or 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 looked different on everyone.

Something similar occurs in Christianity. Those of us who accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour are expected to follow basic guidelines such as the ten commandments (see Exodus 20:1-17). Although we follow the example of Jesus, Christianity looks different on each of us. We may wear it differently, but it still fits us all.

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