photo by Diego PH
By Mike Chaffin
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 NKJV
Parents want children to conform to the rules and regulations of civil society. When they don’t, they are called strong willed, disobedient, or a hoodlum. As they grow older, we want them to transform from children, raucous and reckless teenagers, to productive and mature adults.
God has similar wishes for His children. Although a Christian is called to obey the rules and laws of the land, we are not to conform to the sinful lifestyles of those who do not know God. Apostle Paul said we are in the world, but not of the world. We are to be lights in this dark world. A light shines out to show the way to live, and how to find God.
The New Living Translation (NLT) paraphrases our theme verse and makes understanding it clearer.
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 NLT
We are to become Christ like, holy as He is holy, and abound in love for others. I think Paul explains it best in Colossians,
And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. 8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. 9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. Colossians 2:6-10
That’s God’s pleasing and perfect will for our lives.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to stand firm in your promises and not the lures and deceit that is presented to us by society. Help me to be a light in this dark world so your light can shine, and others can come to know you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
* There is a website that conducted a search for Bible verses. They compiled a list of the verses in order of the magnitude of hits they got in their search. Some of these verses probably qualify as ‘people’s favorites’, while others might be on the list because they are some of the most important and most teachable words of God.
