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
In 1984, toymaker Hasbro came out with a line of what they called Transformers, robots that could change identities by rearranging various parts. Cars or planes could be transformed into superheroes or action figures and back again. The children who collected Transformers conformed to the toy culture of the time.
Paul told the believers in Rome not to conform to the world, its systems, its agenda, its erroneous thinking, or its values. Some phrase this as not allowing the world to squeeze you into its mold. “Do not love the world or the things in the world,” the Apostle John cautions (1 John 2:15). Neither Paul nor John is suggesting you should isolate yourself from the world and its cares. Rather, you are to insulate yourself by renewing your mind through the Word of God and prayer, discerning what it is God desires of your daily walk with Him… to live as sanctified, consecrated, or set apart, to be transformed.
John Piper wrote, “We are perfectly useless as Christians if all we do is conform to the world around us.” Living a Christ-honoring life does not allow the straddling of the fence of values. As the spiritual battle wages on, knowing that your soul is saved through Christ for eternity, the enemy’s goal is to keep you from being a faithful and effective representative of the Gospel. Colossians 3:2 states, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” The choices you make determine whether you conform to the world or be transformed into Christ’s likeness. Pray for America’s legislators to adhere to godly values as they draw up new laws that direct the nation, and that they would choose righteousness.
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: James 4:1-8
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
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.
