The Making of a Pattern

What Patterns Are

Patterns are often the thing most needed and the thing most despised when someone is learning to sew. Honestly, when making a quilt, I love the freedom FROM patterns because they have always frustrated me seriously. Trying to figure out how to cut them accurately, how to interpret the directions that seem to be written in an undecipherable language, how to make them work for me as intended. Using a pattern isn’t easy to a novice, which I am. (Believe me, I don’t speak as a professional.)

In truth, I have a pattern that has been lying on my sewing table for two years now (as well as the requisite fabric to make the pattern with already washed and ironed and waiting for me). I hate interpreting how-tos that badly. I want to, but my want-to is broken when it comes to actually making the thing I bought the pattern for. If reading the Bible for a new believer or someone who is not yet in Christ is anything like interpreting a pattern for one unfamiliar with them, I can truly empathize. 

Maybe the place to begin is to understand that a pattern is made in the image of the original. This is key and Webster’s 1828 offers this definition as its lynchpin: 

An original or model proposed for imitation; the archetype; an exemplar; that which is to be copied or imitated, either in things or in actions; as the pattern of a machine; a pattern of patience. Christ was the most perfect pattern of rectitude, patience, and submission ever exhibited on earth. 

The Bible speaks much of patterns throughout. 

God gave a pattern for the tabernacle and also the pieces and parts to be used in it in His Word: Exodus 25-28 offer patterns for the instruments and tools and Numbers 8 elaborates on them. Deuteronomy 4 offers warnings against making patterns of anything created by God in order to worship them. Joshua 22 speaks of the pattern of the altar of the LORD that their fathers made, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices but to be a witness. 2 Kings mentions patterns of wickedness walked out by evil kings who forsook the true worship of God. 1 Chronicles and Judges mention the pattern given by God to be used in His worship, the proper pattern, not one corrupted by humans. Psalm 110 mentions the pattern of the eternal priest Melchizedek. Ezekiel mentions (chapters 41 & 43) a pattern in the temple’s design that is complete and to be observed entirely. Acts 7 references the pattern used by their ancestors for the tabernacle according to what Moses saw and God commanded of him. 

Then there is the writing of Paul in the New Testament. 

He mentions patterns several times in his letters to churches and pastors of them. He mentions the pattern of Isaac, reminding them they are children of promise, in Galatians 4:28. In Rom. 6 Paul mentions a new pattern they had been transferred to that freed them from being slaves to sin. In 1 Corinthians, he asks them to imitate him, just as he imitates Christ. In Philippians 3, he mentions the pattern the church has in both him and Timothy in the way they walk, which although not perfected, exhibits that they are spiritually mature and pressing forward toward the prize that lay ahead—“the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12-17, NASB). He invites the church to “join in following my example” as well as asking them to “note those who walk so.” Paul also tells them that many walk with their minds set on earthly things, making them enemies of the cross of Christ (v. 18-19). In 1 Thessalonians 1 and 2 Thessalonians 3, he mentions following a pattern “set you by us and by the Master, after you had received the message amid severe persecution, and yet with the joy which the Holy Spirit gives.”

The Connection

Patterns are created so that those who sew may do so in a way that the pieces and parts may be fitted together into a united piece that is useful, able to be used as intended, often exhibiting beauty in the fitting together of individual parts to make something new. Webster’s 1828 also offers this definition in its list: “Any thing cut or formed into the shape of something to be made after it.” 

Did you catch that? Patterns must be cut to be useful. Left in their original form (of pieces and parts all there but nonsensically bound together until cut and the explicit directions followed) a pattern is useless. Paul was a pattern because the Lord God cut him apart, getting his attention, offering much suffering, putting him back together in a way that was useful to the kingdom of God. Paul suffered much in becoming a pattern, and he didn’t tell the church lightly to imitate him; he told them to do as Christ did—come and die. He told them because he understood the pattern of Christ he had persecuted previously. 

Speaking further of patterns

In 1 Timothy 1:13 Paul admonishes Timothy to hold on to the pattern of sound teaching, sound words, that he had heard from him, to hold on to the pattern of faith and love that are found in Christ Jesus. Titus 2:7 urges Titus to show himself a pattern of good works based on incorruptible doctrine. Hebrews 4 warns us to be careful lest we fall into the same old pattern of disobedience those under the law had done previously, thus failing to enter their rest. Hebrews 8 and 9 goes on to further speak of patterns of the Old Testament sacrifices and the better way that is found in Christ, who “did not enter into a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but [He entered] into heaven itself, now to appear in the very presence of God on our behalf (v. 24, AM).

Patterns shouldn’t be despised but understood as a help given. If I fail to heed them and try to do things my own way, I should be prepared for the consequences of frustration and failure that often follow. Spiritually speaking, if I heed the pattern given me, and I fail in following, I can understand that if it helps me not to sin, I can be thankful for the pattern before me, for Christ who gave it; if I sin while attempting to follow the pattern provided, I can come humble and broken to the God who won’t despise me for falling short, who will forgive me for my sin when I ask, who Himself paid the price for my failures. 

My only true failure is in not picking up my Word, not reading the instructions of the pattern given me, and not attempting to walk faithfully with His help as a pattern instead of a professor. 

Now, about that pattern lying on my sewing table untouched . . .