Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind – Romans 12:2
Culture drives many things. Consider women’s fashion, popular music, and the influence of celebrities over the last 100 years. The jazz age of the 1920s saw women leave Edwardian dress for flapper shifts, and bathing suits rose above the knee. Ten years later, film star Marlene Deitrich wore trousers and Oxfords. Later with rock and roll, young girls were fashionable in poodle skirts and saddle shoes while drinking chocolate malts at the Woolworth lunch counter while young men rolled up their blue jeans and built hot rods. First Lady Jaqueline Kennedy introduced pillbox hats in the 60s, and by the 70’s, the hippie look with beads and bell bottoms had taken over. Fast forward to 2024 and the age of the internet and access to everything, all the time, anywhere, and all at once. Now things come into and fall out of fashion in a matter of days or hours.
Author, pastor and podcaster Jon Courson in his commentary on today’s verse wrote, “Are you a thermometer—adjusting to the temperature of the culture, or are you a thermostat—changing the climate of the culture? If you are a conformer, a thermometer, you’re in for perpetual frustration because by the time you take the temperature and figure out what’s hot, by the time you change your look, or buy the car, or redo your house—the world will have moved on, leaving you out of style.” You may let cultural trends define your selection of clothes or automobiles, but God wants your inner self to be adorned with grace, righteousness, mercy, humility, and justice (Micah 6:8).
John Piper suggests in transforming your mind you “cultivate the mindset of exiles. What this does mainly is sober us up and wake us up so that we don’t drift with the world and take for granted that the way the world thinks and acts is the best way.” God wants you to take your cues from His Word, and that relates to all issues in your manner of life. You are a representative of His eternal kingdom. You must do what is right for your soul and body and seek always to glorify the Lord. Pray for Christian leaders who have broad followings and great influence to live godly before everyone.
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 Corinthians 10:23-31
23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
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.
