Don’t Conform, Transform
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)
Romans 1 through 11 is heavy on right thinking, on good theology. Starting with chapter 12, the Apostle Paul focused more on living out the truth already presented. Because of what God has done in the believer, they should not be conformed to this world. This warns us that the popular culture and thinking in rebellion against God will try to conform us to its ungodly pattern, and we must resist that process.
The opposite of being conformed to this world is to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. The battleground between conforming to the world and being transformed is in the mind of the believer. Christians must think differently. “I don’t want to be conformed to this world. I want to be transformed. How do I do it?” By the renewing of your mind. The problem with many Christians is they live based on feelings, or they are only concerned about doing.
The life based on feeling says, “How do I feel today? How do I feel about my job? How do I feel about my marriage? How do I feel about worship? How do I feel about the preacher?” This life by feeling will never know the transforming power of God because it ignores the renewing of the mind.
The life based on doing says, “Don’t give me your theology. Just tell me what to do. Give me the four points for this and the seven keys for that.” This life of doing will never know the transforming power of God, because it ignores the renewing of the mind.
God is never against the principles of feeling and doing. He is a God of powerful and passionate feeling, and He commands us to be doers. Yet feelings and doing are completely insufficient foundations for the Christian life. The first questions cannot be “How do I feel?” or “What do I do?” Rather, they must be “What is true here? What does God’s word say?” This is how minds are renewed and lives are transformed.
As we are transformed on the inside, the proof is evident on the outside, as others can see what the good and acceptable and perfect will of God is through our life.
Here is how to live out the will of God:
– Keep in mind the rich mercy of God to you – past, present, and future.
– As an act of intelligent worship, decide to yield your entire self to Him.
– Resist conformity to the thoughts and actions of this world.
– As you focus on God’s truth and follow Jesus, God will transform your life.
– Your life will prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Don’t conform – transform by the power of God’s Spirit and His truth.
