For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps… 1 Peter 2:21 (NASB)
I can remember back to kindergarten days when we were faced with the daunting task of learning how to write. Having been taught how to grip a pencil, we were given copy books with faint letters of the alphabet and our task was to trace over them and become familiar with their shape. Eventually, after many clumsy and arduous efforts, we learnt how to write our names and form basic words.
All of this experience flooded back into my mind as I studied the above verse found in 1 Peter 2. It tells us that Christ has left us “an example”. The Greek word for “example” is hupogrammos. It is a school word related to Greek elementary education. It refers to the act of writing over letters. Teachers would lightly trace the letters of the alphabet so that students could write over them to learn how to write. Just as a child slowly, with laborious effort and close application, follows the shape of the letters of his teacher and thus learns the art of writing, so we should with similar effort, and by close application to our daily lives, endeavour to be like the Lord Jesus.
John phrased it this way:
Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. 1 John 2:6 (NIV)
Paul understood this and said:
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV)
In similar manner he told us:
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Philippians 2:5 (NLT)
Remember, the closer you are, the easier it is to follow. Jesus is our example. Walk closely with Christ each day and allow Him to reproduce His characteristics in your life.
Are you following the perfect pattern?