Are you conformed to this world?

Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Two days ago we looked at what it means to be transformed by God’s power into a Spirit-filled Christian. It seems impossible, according to this verse, for a true Christian to be a “Christian” unless that person refuses to conform to the behavior and customs of this world. I believe the key to not being conformed to this world is found in Psalm 131:2:

“But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.” (HCSB)

We must allow the Holy Spirit to wean us away from the world. This isn’t a process that is automatic…this isn’t always a pleasant process…but it is necessary. I like what Charles Spurgeon says in the Treasury of David:

“This weanedness of soul presupposes a power left in the soul of loving and desiring. It is not the destruction of its appetite, but the controlling and changing of it. A weaned child still hungers, but it hungers no more after the food that once delighted it; it is quiet without it; it can feed on other things: so a soul weaned from the world, still pants as much as ever for food and happiness, but it no longer seeks them in worldly things, or desires to do so. There is nothing in the world that it feels necessary for its happiness. This thing in it it loves, and that thing it values; but it knows that it can do without them, and it is ready to do without them whenever God pleases. Let us inquire now into the sources of this frame of mind — how we get it. One thing is certain — it is not our work. We do not bring ourselves to it. No infant weans itself. The truth is, it is God that must wean us from the world. We shall never leave it of our own accord. It is God’s own right hand that must draw us from it.”

Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to wean you away from the world and all of the things that Satan would like to use to keep you from serving the Lord?

Have you been transformed?

Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to transform your life? Have you “sold out” and given everything over to the Lord? Are you determined to follow Him and do His will with your life? The standards in God’s Word are high…God calls us to be a people separated from this world.

In this verse, Paul tells us that we are not to be conformed to this world but rather we are to be transformed. This transformation starts with the renewing of our minds or hearts. I really like how the translators for the New Living Translation translated this verse:

“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 know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is” (Romans 12:2).

Are you copying the behaviors and customs of this world? Jesus said we cannot serve God and mammon or the things of this world (Matthew 6:24). We must focus our devotion and loyalty on serving God and not let this world with all of its “things” distract us. We are called to be separated from this world. The standard is given in God’s Word and it is an absolute standard:

“And what agreement does God’s sanctuary have with idols? For we are the sanctuary of the living God, as God said: I will dwell among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people. (17) Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you. (18) I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:16-18 HCSB).

Our family, March 2005. Michael & Shawna, Luanna (7), Esther (4), and baby due any day now!

Am I inspiring others to want to obey Christ?

Last Sunday, I sang a special song at church…I tagged on the chorus from “Find Us Faithful.” There was one phrase in this chorus that has stuck with me ever since I sang it. It said, “May the lives we live inspire them to obey.” The more I have pondered this, the more I’ve wondered, “Am I living a life that will inspire others to want serve and obey the Lord?” It might do everyone well to think about this same question and examine your own words and actions.

My desire is to so live my life that my wife, daughters, extended family members, and co-workers will all be inspired to obey Christ.