| “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 |
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| GETTING the WORD IN and KEEP the WORLD OUT As the Apostle Paul moves from doctrinal teaching to practical teaching he calls for in Romans 12:1 a PRESENTATION of one life to Lord. With the presentation, there will be DEDICATION of oneself to the Lord, as the believer is a living sacrifice and will live holy and acceptable to the Lord. In order to live holy and acceptable there will need to be a major change, a TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE, whereby our mind thinks differently. The “world” is a system that does not regard God’s authority. It has no desire to do the will of God. The world wants a person to have it their way, doing whatever feels good and doing what brings immediate gratification. The world system seeks to conform us to its image. The Apostle Paul says that is not to happen writing emphatically “DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD.” Choosing to not be conformed to this world is not easy UNLESS one understands the positive that the Apostle Paul gives by teaching that one can BE TRANSFORMED by renewing the mind. Instead of letting the WORLD’s ideas in our minds, we RENEW our minds by PUTTING the WORD’s instructions in our minds. We are able to GET THE WORLD OUT by PUTTING THE WORD IN. Notice I used the word “PUTTING in the Word” to renew one’s mind as one must be intentional! It takes discipline. Recall from Psalms 119:9 that asked, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.” To help heed God’s Word one then needs to HIDE God’s Word so one can draw on it when facing temptations! Psalm 119:11 says, “Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You!” This is the PUTTING in the WORD. As God’s Word goes in and one applies the Word you have TRANSFORMATION! And with transformation one now WANTS TO KNOW and DO what God’s will is for their life. As you consider Romans 12:2 may I ask the question of how have you CHANGED since becoming a believer? How have you CHANGED, LATELY? The transformed life will have you BECOMING more like CHRIST and less like the world and, listen, less like you. In other words, you are CHANGING. Just as a caterpillar is changed, and transformed to a butterfly we are transformed to be more like Christ. Or are you intentionally PUTTING, HIDING God’s Word in your heart in order to renew your mind so you have a mind that wants to do the will of God? The verse to DATE the Word on December 2 (12/2) is Romans 12:2. It says, “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.” Getting the WORLD OUT means PUTTING God’s WORD IN!! WORD IN! WORLD OUT!! Continue Strong intentionally putting God’s WORD in which brings about a transformed life! And remember to DATE THE WORD |