Pattern Change and Paradigm Sift

UV 3521/10000 Pattern Change and Paradigm Sift
Let no one look down on you because of your youth, but be an example and set a pattern for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in moral purity.

I Timothy 4 v 12

Beliefs change our patterns of thought, speech, conduct, habits, lifestyle, choices, relationships. We ought not to be set in our old ways before we became believers. Our old patterns of negative speech, conduct, character, choices, habits, thoughts and passions should change or be transformed to the new patterns of speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. Till we become mature believers, some of the old patterns of thought, speech, conduct co-exist with the new, overlap and disturb the new. We should model ourselves on Christ, the pioneer and author of our faith. We must avoid lustful ways and things that would bring us the reproach of Christ. The Holy Spirit will remind us from time to time about any wrong word we spoke or action we did. We need to sift the new out of the old as some elements of the old patterns of our thinking, speaking, reacting and acting get intertwined with the new. What we need therefore, is not paradigm shift as management parlance would put it but paradigm sift.

We, regardless of our age, should live and conduct ourselves in such a way that even unbelievers would not look down on us with scorn or reproof. Our conduct should be blameless and exemplary so that we win them by the sheer attraction to our character. Our lives should be salty enough to make the gospel tasty for others. When we change the pattern of our thinking, the pattern of our speech, decision making, behaviour would change for the better. The pattern of our thinking would be impacted by imbibing the Word and resolving that we would obey or practice it in our daily lives.

It takes discipline to follow consistent patterns for our speech, conduct and thinking. We need to cut out the frills, the distractors and disruptors of our lives. Our daily routine should not be mechanically followed day after day. Instead, we should be sensitive enough to learn every day from the Lord and make the necessary changes in our existing patterns of speech, conduct and thought as highlighted by the Holy Spirit. We should realize that only fifty percent of our message is spoken and that the remaining fifty percent is to be lived out for others to witness.