Pattern For Life
PATTERN FOR LIFE
Read Ephesians 2:2-7, 10.
Mandy curled up on the sofa to read a book. Her mother knelt on the floor, surrounded by colorful fabric, pattern pieces, scissors, and pins. Mandy looked up from her book. “What are you doing, Mom?” she asked.
“I’m making a shirt for myself,” replied Mom as she pinned a pattern piece onto the fabric.
“I don’t see how you can make all those pieces come together and look like the picture on the pattern envelope!” Mandy said.
Mom smiled. “You could do this too, if you wanted to,” she said. “If I just follow the directions, my shirt will turn out like the one in the picture.”
As Mandy watched her mother stitch pieces together on the sewing machine, she asked, “Mom, do you think God has patterns for our lives?”
“Patterns?” asked Mom. “What do you mean?”
“Well, in Sunday school, Mrs. Crane said that God has a plan for each of us,” explained Mandy. “She also said we should do what God tells us in the Bible so we can become what God wants us to be. That might be like following the instruction sheet that comes with your pattern.”
“That’s a good illustration!” said Mom. “Yes, God is making each of us into something special, Mandy. Even when things look confusing or impossible—like these shirt pieces did to you—we have to keep following God’s instructions. Then He’ll make us into beautiful finished products.” Mom smiled at Mandy. “You’re a smart girl. I know you could learn to sew if you put your mind to it.”
Mandy grinned. “Next time you go to the fabric store, maybe I can come along,” she said. “It might be fun.”
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know that God has a pattern for your life? Instructions are found in the Bible. As you learn and obey what God tells you through His Word, you will become more like Jesus, and the pattern, or plan, He has for you will become evident in your life.
TO MEMORIZE:
We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Ephesians 2:10
FOLLOW GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS.
From the book
