Examples To Live By

I so enjoyed the experience of a job in the late ’70s. Gray Tool Company. It was from here that we celebrated our first-born and relocation to Alaska.

It was a foundational experience! There were examples of life that I enjoyed and grew from, and then there were examples I learned to shun!

Growth: On the moments when I was able to walk through the manufacturing shop, I would find huge blocks of steel in various shapes and sizes. Some, barely able to sit in the back of my pickup truck due to their size and weight. Eventually, steel is placed on a lathe, and a computer is loaded with the design steps. Blades and drills shave and cut the steel into a final product. Glistening. Glowing. Sleek. Ready to get dirty! On the top of an oil well, that is. Yep. Oil tools manufacturing was the game. Above, within, and somewhere low in the deep blue sea.

Shun: Language. I don’t understand negative speak, nor foul language in daily conversation. Suffice it to say, I equate all of it in the same bucket. Negative. Foul. So, flush it!

Master Patterns

In every arena of manufacturing, and in most areas of life, before anything can be duplicated, there is a master pattern to follow.

Think about the wellheads mentioned previously, from one computer program, each workstation is loaded with a copy of the master program to re-create the final product. One instruction at a time. It boggles the mind to think about the effort it took to get the exact instructions to replicate time after time that polished product.

Imperfections require special handling, maybe a programming change and a re-make of the product.

Master recordings in the music industry, are protected by distance, security, and time. It is kept out of the hands of the one responsible to make the duplication so as to not alter the original. Duplicates are the results of what we see and hear in the final product.

From something as simple as a plastic part that you find in your everyday life to something as intricate as an engine block, everything is a duplicate of a master “form” that you will never handle in your normal life.

This got me to thinking about patterns.

We are each a unique pattern of those who have gone before us. Our immediate progenitors come easily to mind, and we are so very like our parents in ways, yet unique to our own personal experience. You can often tell that a child is related to the parent, but with enough personal unique flavors that cannot be replicated in every offspring. Each replication is unique and personally owned by the holder.

Yet. Our times shape each of us into an even more unique personality.

Growing up in the mid-50s, and finally married in the mid-70s, I’m sure there are things about me that are more unique to the times than simply a genetic disposition. I know this is true for my children. They are not only rubber-stamped with parental influences, but the times do set the stage for each to become different in many ways.

Patterns mold us into an image, but the times we live in whittle away the “barrier” of the previous generations and produce an almost new product not easily understood by those who are nearing the ending of life.

Think About It

I’ve said it before when you compare something as long-running as “the church” – we are probably nothing today that the first-century church would recognize.

Language. Experiences. Technology. Translations. Leaderships. Dress. From what we accept, to what we reject, everything seems to be different!

The Apostle Paul encourages the readers of his Epistle to the Philippians to be followers together with him and to them who walk according to his example.

Brethren, join in following my example,
and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping,
that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly,
and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.
(Philippians 3:17-19 NKJV)

Among the readers are “newbies”, old-hat’s, and potential enemies of Christ. Choosing who to follow is an important aspect of becoming a Christian. Walking with the wrong crowd is a mistake.

In essence, Paul is setting the pattern of life, and they are to match their walk to that pattern. Those that do not follow the pattern are probably representatives of wolves in sheep clothing.

Even Jesus’s Pattern Touches Paul

In a multitude of scripture, Jesus gives us examples of how to lead our lives.

In one occurrence He instructs the disciples that He has given them an example of service to others (John 13:15) and they should do as He has done.

Paul is not one of these early disciples, but all that he is taught is by revelation from Christ (Galatians 1:12). He is examined several times by the “church” and they even rejoice in his life because he is no longer a persecutor of the church. (Galatians 1:22-24)

Paul is sent by the church, along with Barnabas, as a chosen representative of the church. (Acts 15:22) The mark that Paul is an example to be followed is by the cut of the fabric of his life and how it duplicates the original.

In fact, he even tells Corinth to be followers of him as he is a follower of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1) He instructs Timothy to be an example (pattern) of the believers to those that do not believe. (1 Timothy 4:12) Arguably, Timothy is an adept follower. Paul tells the Philippians that he will send Timothy to them because he is like-minded with Paul’s mind. (Philippians 2:19-23)

From The Original

From an Original, duplicates are made, and from the duplicates of the original, additional copies are created that are in the form of the Original.

Who is our original example?

Jesus, of course. We use his pattern to duplicate our lives so that it will be noted (as with Peter and John), we have been with Christ! (Acts 4:13)

Since I’m removed from His physical form by time and distance, I look to the Word to give me examples and patterns of life. Away from the Word, I look for others around me that are cut from the same fabric as He is, and those are the ones I am to follow. From those within my family to other Christians that surround me, I find plenty of examples that show me how to live.

Copy The Original

Looking at Jesus for a moment, we find Him in prayer for His disciples. (John 17:6-26)

These very men that will undergo the ultimate test of discipleship in John 18. Obviously they have heard his prayer because John is able to record it. They hear the words He speaks. Maybe they do not fully comprehend the depth of these words, but they understand He is praying for them.

Praying for them!

How many times have they listened to Jesus pray? He prays others (Lazarus, the sick, the dead, the messed up lives). Now He is praying for them.

How many times have we prayed for others as Jesus prayed for them? We have prayed within our own spirit. We have prayed with a loud voice. Others have heard us. What are we praying for? How are we praying? What are we saying?

What is Our Example That We Follow?

In John 17, Jesus begins a prayer of intercession for his followers. He intercedes for them, for their relationship with God and each other. For their ability to withstand the hatred and evil of the world. For their understanding of the truth. He prays for their unity and their comprehension of truth. He prays for their joy and perfection.

In fact, this example of prayer is a great pattern for us to follow as we begin to pray for someone or for something that we need God to intercede on our behalf. Through a class exercise, I set up these next few lines as a pattern from the original prayer of Jesus that I could use to pray for others.

Prayer Example

1. God, (manifest) make known Your Name to ________. (Insert name)
2. You gave me words to use and I give these words to __________.
3. I pray for ________. Keep _________ through the power and knowledge of Your Name.
4. I pray that ________ will be “one” with your name.
5. You are the Joy of my salvation, extend my joy, and fulfill it into __________.
6. Keep ________ from evil while you keep ___________  in this world. _________ is a part of this world right now but God you have given _________ your spirit and __________ is like the prodigal that the Father is looking for every day.
7. Set __________ apart from this world through Your Truth.
8. Those that ________ touches through life, I pray that they will see through _________ perspective and perceive _________ background because _________ has been touched by Your Spirit and Word.
9. As your Glory is my glory, I pray that my glory will extend to ________ so that ________ may be One with you and be perfect.
10. I pray that ________ be with you as I am with you.
11. I have and will continue to declare your name to __________ for Love’s Sake.

Take a few moments to print this pattern. Fill in the blanks for someone you are heavy in spirit about. Pray a prayer of intercession for them.

It’s okay. Jesus did it.