Devotional
Have you ever tried to sew without a pattern? The result is usually a mess of crooked seams and mismatched pieces. In our world today, there are countless versions of Jesus being presented – some emphasize only love without truth, others focus on prosperity, and still others reduce Him to a mere moral teacher. But which Jesus should we follow? The answer is beautifully simple: we follow the Jesus revealed in the Gospels, written by those who actually walked with Him, ate with Him, and witnessed His life firsthand. These aren’t secondhand accounts or modern interpretations – they’re the authentic pattern of who Jesus truly is. Just like a seamstress carefully cuts fabric along the dotted lines of a pattern to create something beautiful, we’re called to cut our lives along the dotted lines of Jesus’ life. This means studying how He lived, what He prioritized, and how He treated people. It means looking beyond cultural trends and popular opinions to discover the real Jesus. When we follow the authentic pattern of Christ, our lives begin to take on His shape. We start to love like He loved, serve like He served, and live with the same priorities He demonstrated. This isn’t about perfection – it’s about transformation. It’s about allowing the true Jesus to reshape us from the inside out. The beautiful truth is that Jesus doesn’t just give us a pattern to follow; He gives us the power to follow it. Through His Spirit, we can actually live like Him, love like Him, and impact the world like Him.
Bible Verse
‘Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.’ – Mark 1:35
Reflection Question
What ‘versions’ of Jesus have you been influenced by in our culture, and how can you ensure you’re following the authentic Jesus revealed in Scripture?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me to know You as You truly are, not as culture or trends portray You. Give me a hunger for Your Word and the wisdom to follow Your authentic pattern. Shape my life according to Your example, and help me to cut away anything that doesn’t align with who You really are. Amen.