Friday, November 9, 2012

Do not be conformed

 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.
Romans 12:2 ESV


When I was a teenager I was labeled a non-conformist by my High school principle. He did this because I balked at all authority. Balking at authority is not what Paul is speaking of in this passage. Paul is saying that Christians are not to be conformed to the ways of the world. They are not to indulge in all the sinful ways of the world. As christians we are a called out people. That means to be called out of the world. Not physically, but spiritually called out of the world.

He then goes on to explain we are to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. As Christians we are being renewed. As we come under the influence of the scriptures and we learn a different way to live, we are renewed in our thinking. Our minds are changed. We will be tested and when we're tested we need to lean on our new understanding of life to help us live in the right way.

The bible tells us all we need to know about what is good, acceptable and perfect in God's sight. When we read the Gospels we see all of these things lived out in the life of Jesus. When we look to the remainder of the New Testament teachings of the Apostles, we find the instructions we need to live this new life out before the world. Everything we need to be transformed is within the pages of our bible. We just need to apply it to our lives.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16,17 ESV


© 2012 Leo J. Woodman

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