Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. – Romans 12:2
There was a song in the 1960s made famous by Pete Seeger called “Little Boxes.“ The song talked of people who lived in the same type of houses, went to universities, and all came out the same. Being squeezed into the world’s mold is exactly what the apostle Paul tells believers to reject.
Once you receive Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you come to understand with more clarity what it means to be a child of God. Sincerely devoted to God, you want to please Him with body, soul, and mind, allowing His Word to reshape your attitudes and your perspectives. It begins with an inward transformation which becomes noticeable in your outward demeanor, appearance, and character. Rather than being materialistic, you turn your eyes to the eternal. Instead of being self-reliant and selfish, you become dependent on the Lord, and your concern for others takes precedence over self.
Being transformed allows you to “discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2b). It is amazing to realize that God does not want to rob you of your individuality, but He does not want to leave you where you are either. The Holy Spirit enables you to grasp spiritual realities and become more Christlike.
Be mindful of the world’s attempts to fashion you into its mold. Stay close to the Lord in His Word and you will be able to live in this world with wisdom and discernment, with an eye to eternity and the glory awaiting there. Pray for those in authority, that they would know the Savior. The only way to transform the world for good is to be transformed by the grace of God.
Today’s Verse: Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
4 Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
