June 6, 2016 BE TRANSFORMED
Romans 12:2: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
We have a tendency to wait on God to transform us, or change us, and we remain the same while “waiting” for the transformation. Even though God is ultimately the One who changes us, He has nonetheless given us the responsibility to be proactive in the transformation process. In a very subtle way, if we are “waiting on God” to change us, we can “blame” Him when the needed change does not occur. We have to conclude that because Paul was admonishing believers to not be conformed to the world, it is possible for believers to find themselves being conformed to the world rather than being transformed. The transformation process is rooted in the mind-how we think. As believers, we have been given new minds that makes it possible for us to have our mind-our thoughts-to be in keeping with the truths of scripture. It is an amazing truth to think that we can think like God our Father thinks-that’s what the transformation process is all about. Renewing our minds is not a one-time occurrence, but is something we do continually, and that is our part, or responsibility, in the transformation process. God has made us new creations, has given us new hearts and new minds, and has given us His Holy Spirit, but He has also left us with the power of choice-the freedom of will. God does not want robots, but wants a people who would are drawn to Him because of His great love. God has equipped us, and made it possible for us to be transformed, to live with a renewed mind. This truth of living with a renewed mind, of thinking like God thinks, is a giant step for us in our spiritual journey, and it is just what God designed! How many times every day of our life is there a need to think like God thinks? My responses, my actions, and my thoughts reflect whether or not I am living out of a renewed mind, or with a mind that has conformed to the ways of the world. For example, when I am wronged, or someone speaks in a bad way of me, I can either respond in anger, or I can respond in a way that pleases God-it’s that simple. The world tells us to retaliate, or get even with the one who has wronged us or did or said something that offended us. When we live the transformed life that comes from our renewed mind, we will be living in the will of God and we will find that His will is “good, acceptable, and perfect.” For our own benefit, for the benefit of those around us, and as a way of honoring our Father, let us continually renew our mind and live a transformed life that reflects the nature of our Father.
1 Peter 3:9: “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”
Blessing,
Buddy
Romans 12:2: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
We have a tendency to wait on God to transform us, or change us, and we remain the same while “waiting” for the transformation. Even though God is ultimately the One who changes us, He has nonetheless given us the responsibility to be proactive in the transformation process. In a very subtle way, if we are “waiting on God” to change us, we can “blame” Him when the needed change does not occur. We have to conclude that because Paul was admonishing believers to not be conformed to the world, it is possible for believers to find themselves being conformed to the world rather than being transformed. The transformation process is rooted in the mind-how we think. As believers, we have been given new minds that makes it possible for us to have our mind-our thoughts-to be in keeping with the truths of scripture. It is an amazing truth to think that we can think like God our Father thinks-that’s what the transformation process is all about. Renewing our minds is not a one-time occurrence, but is something we do continually, and that is our part, or responsibility, in the transformation process. God has made us new creations, has given us new hearts and new minds, and has given us His Holy Spirit, but He has also left us with the power of choice-the freedom of will. God does not want robots, but wants a people who would are drawn to Him because of His great love. God has equipped us, and made it possible for us to be transformed, to live with a renewed mind. This truth of living with a renewed mind, of thinking like God thinks, is a giant step for us in our spiritual journey, and it is just what God designed! How many times every day of our life is there a need to think like God thinks? My responses, my actions, and my thoughts reflect whether or not I am living out of a renewed mind, or with a mind that has conformed to the ways of the world. For example, when I am wronged, or someone speaks in a bad way of me, I can either respond in anger, or I can respond in a way that pleases God-it’s that simple. The world tells us to retaliate, or get even with the one who has wronged us or did or said something that offended us. When we live the transformed life that comes from our renewed mind, we will be living in the will of God and we will find that His will is “good, acceptable, and perfect.” For our own benefit, for the benefit of those around us, and as a way of honoring our Father, let us continually renew our mind and live a transformed life that reflects the nature of our Father.
1 Peter 3:9: “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”
Blessing,
Buddy
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