James 1:25

New American Standard Version

But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does.

Pastor’s Paraphrase

          The person who focuses intently upon the laws and truths of God’s Word will discover a life of spiritual freedom there. As he makes this the consistent pattern of his life, continuing to look at God’s truth and learn from it daily, remembering everything he is taught and faithfully putting into practice – that person discovers a life of blessing beyond all expectations.

 “How does this help me become more like Him?”

          When I was a young boy in elementary school, I had a friend who had an incredible gift for art.  He could look at anything and draw it with remarkable skill.  He could just picture a scene in his mind and produce a drawing that would amaze us.  We so admired his skill that we would pay him (usually a nickel or a dime which was big money for us back then) to make a drawing for us.  I wish I still had some of those drawings today.

          I did not have back then nor do I now have such talent.  I don’t even do very well drawing “stick men”.  So accepting my lack of artistic talent, what I used to do as a child was to trace pictures.  I’m sure you have done that at some time as well.  You lay the paper on top of the image that you wish to draw so that you can see the image through the paper.  Holding the paper as still and straight on the image as you can, you carefully outline what you see onto the paper.  The more patiently and carefully you trace the image, the more the drawing looks like the original.

          As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called on to “trace” our lives on top of the pattern of Scripture so that the image of Christ will emerge on the “paper” of our lives.  To be successful in this, an occasional glance or a fleeting attention to the pattern will not suffice.  We must be still and look intently at the pattern of believing and behaving that we see in the Word of God.  We cannot color the drawing of our lives with clumsy and awkward strokes as if we were a young preschool child – we must trace carefully what we see as the Holy Spirit guides our strokes.

          When we focus intently on the pattern and we outline carefully what we see in our lives, the image of the Savior begins to emerge.  It is not a perfect image but it is a recognizable one.  It becomes clear enough for others to see the beauty of the sinless One who died for us.  The majestic shades of His mercy, love, kindness, and grace add richness to our lives and color to the image that the world longing for spiritual beauty begins to behold.  While the tracing is unmistakably our own, the likeness to the One who lives within us enables those in our lives to see the One who loves them more than they know.

          Trace carefully, dear saints of the Lord.  Focus intently on the pattern our Lord has given us.  When we take our eyes off of it, the image begins to become distorted and unclear.  Let the picture of your life leave no doubt Who lives within you and through you.  As in the words of a great old hymn, “Let Others See Jesus in You”!

“How should I pray for Him to change my life?”

Thank the Lord today that He has given us the pattern of His Word to shape our lives into the image of Christ.  Pray that He would help you understand each day the importance of every little stroke in the masterpiece that is your Christian life.  Ask Him to guide your hands as you trace His likeness in your life today.

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