Renewing the Mind – 4

This post is Day 4 in a series of studies about “Renewing the Mind”, I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

Feel free to comment below with your own thoughts about each verse and how you will be acting on each thought. Also, if you haven’t yet signed up to receive the notifications of new studies, you can do that today (the form is at the bottom of the page).


Renewing the Mind – Day 4

Romans 12:2

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed …

The Thought

We look at this verse again today with some added advice about how to change.

There is no polite request here. Paul is not saying “it would be nice if…” or “why not try…”. He is giving us a command, “Do not conform, but be transformed”! Paul knows from his own transformation that it is the only way to the truth.

Most of the Lord’s commands are so clear, and in our modern western thinking we have often weakened them or nullified them. We tell ourselves that a good God wouldn’t be so strict, so limiting; I have heard people argue when they are doing something which is against Biblical principals that they are sure God wants them to be happy. But someone in rebellion or seeking self interests rarely has an idea of what “being happy” really is.

In fact the Bible never says “Be happy,” in so many words, but it shows us the way to find true happiness, and at the end of the day it is by following Jesus’ example and doing what He said. That’s what St. Paul did and if it worked for him, it’ll work for you and me. He had a head on collision with The Risen Lord and his life changed overnight!

Action

Pray for a clear understanding of the Lord’s commands for you today. Ask Him where he would like to see you transformed. Dare you give Him permission to do the changing necessary?

Ask for forgiveness where you have chosen not to follow Him in the past.

Read the closing verses of the preceding chapter (Romans 11:33-36) and feel Paul’s enthusiasm for the God that had revealed Himself as somebody VERY different to who Paul thought He was.

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