A Pattern of Good Works - Tracybeth Medford

“In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is on the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.” Titus 2:7&8 Pattern: An original or model proposed for imitation, an example that is to be copied or imitated, either in things or 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. If you look back to the first part of verse 7 “ In all things shewing a pattern of good works...” Many of us here today wear many hats. You may be a teacher, a wife, mother, daughter, friend, grandmother, caregiver, Pastors wife, Sunday school teacher, and the list goes on and on. No matter where you fall in that list there are also seasons of life that go with who you are. There are seasons of happiness, joy, peace, sorrow and grief. You may have been saved at a young age or later in life. No matter your age or your stage God desires to have a personal relationship with you. He wants to be your “all things” In Matthew 6:33 the bible says: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 1. He wants to be your God, your all things God. Your one and only God. Jeremiah 24:7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart. Remember that God is a jealous God. He does not want your leftovers. He wants you fully and wholly. He wants your whole heart. Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. 2. He wants to be your provider Back to Matthew 6:33 “all these things shall be added unto you” If you seek God first and his righteousness He will do as HE says he will do. Not only will he provide for you, but as a father with his daughter He wants to give you the desires of your heart. Psalms 37:3-5 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 3. He wants to be your pattern. Your pattern of good works. The one you keep looking back at to see if you are doing it just right. The only good in us is because Jesus Christs righteousness and the Holy spirit that dwells in us. This past fall I went to a ladies craft day at a church camp with the ladies of our church. They go to this event every year, but this was my very first time attending. As I entered the room I saw four different craft stations set up, and at each station was an example of what we were about to create. Stacked neatly in piles on the tables were all the supplies needed to make that item. There were no written instructions on how to put it together but there was a leader stationed there if you needed any help. Guess who needed help? Yep, it was my first time crafting like this and I was ready to make something great! So one of my ladies sat by me and walked me through the first steps. Step one choose between and apple and a pumpkin. Ok, easy enough I chose pumpkin but the only problem was I was sitting at the table where all the supplies in front of me were for an apple...so I switched tables and got all the supplies together and started my craft. I carefully examined the example, picked out my paint colors and began painting...well when I finished painting I looked up and everyone around me was new, except my friend who was just sitting there waiting on me to finish...I prompted her to go on to another station because she was waiting on her paint to dry and I accidently painted both sides of my boards and had them strategically sitting on their ends to dry. So other ladies began asking what number paint did you use? What order do I put these boards. I simply pointed to the example and helped them find the boards they needed. As they finished painting their boards I was putting the words on my board by taking a pencil and shading the back of the word and trying to put it on the center a lady suggested cutting out the word so that I could get it just right. That worked perfectly. The ladies that I began the craft with were back and now asking me how to put the words on the boards so I stopped and helped them. When I had finally finished my first craft many had done two and some three. It was lunchtime and we enjoyed our meal and back to crafting again. As I was preparing this lesson I thought about how life takes us through different seasons we are not alone, there may be someone who has been there before who can help you through that season. There may be someone new to that season and doesn’t know much about it but they can point you in the right direction. You may be going through a season that you cant share with anyone look up at your pattern, your example Jesus Christ and keep on crafting your life in the image of God. It might take you longer to get through a season in life But God can use you in a mighty way to help a sister going through that same season. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are our” patterns of good works” Matthew 19:16-22 16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. So how do we shew ourselves a pattern of works? By putting on His righteousness. By seeing others the way that God sees them. By humbling ourselves as a servant to a master. By seeing the good in others and serving them as we would serve the Lord if he were standing in their place. By being sensitive to the Holy spirits leading. He may lead you to write a quick note to a friend that just lost a family member. He may lead you to give a dollar and a gospel tract to a cute little 6 year old in the line behind you at the dollar store. Listen to his leading and watch God do good through you. Galatians 6:10 says: “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” When something happens in the lives of your friends, neighbors, church members, coworker or family members. You can be a pattern of good works...Instead of saying let me know if I can do anything for you...think, pray and ask the Holy spirits leading. I like to keep little notes on my prayer list next to my friends that say: She likes dark chocolate, Sunflowers and Chik a fila. Then when that friend has a birthday or is just having a tough week I like to gift her one of her favorite things. With a card saying “Thinking of you” or Praying for you friend” with a bible verse to encourage them to keep looking unto Jesus. Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. I came across this quote: “Do everything with a good heart and expect nothing in return, and you will never be disappointed.” ~ We know that without God our hearts are desperately wicked. Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? God knows it, He created us just as we know our children he knows us. So our prayer should be Psalm 139:23 &24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. ~We know that without God there is no good in us. We have to put on the righteousness of Jesus even to come unto Him. Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. {because: or, that} 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Are you called according to his purpose? Are you a willing vessel ready to be used as a pattern of good works? Can others see Jesus in you, through you, and by your good works?