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.
We are all too familiar with conforming to this world. From childhood on we
are taught how to get along with our peers, how to climb the ladder of success,
what is expected of us in the society in which we live. As believers we must
learn an entirely new set of criteria, based on faith and believing in Jesus
Christ. We can be transformed. We can have our minds (thinking) renewed. We can
prove to ourselves and know with assurance what the acceptable, perfect will of
God in our lives is.
This transformation is an ongoing process. We must learn to hear the voice
of the Spirit within, and then be obedient to what we hear. At the same time we
must put down our flesh, and die to our own carnal reasoning, wants and
desires. This is a spiritual process, and can only be accomplished as we submit
to God. We cannot bring any transformation about by our own strenuous efforts;
it is all the work of God, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes it is
easier to comply when we have a little better understanding of what the process
involves. This process happens within our hearts, and is then manifest
outwardly. It is brought about as we submit to the Holy Spirit.
Man attempts to meet the criteria set forth in God's Word by altering their
outward appearance and actions. Changing the way they dress or speak, trying to
look or sound holy, is superficial. Within they can still be full of malice,
lust, pride and every evil thing. This carnal attempt to achieve righteousness
is widely practiced in today's world, and those who practice it deceive many.
The problem lies in failing to discern that it is impossible for us to
accomplish "spiritual things" through the arm of the flesh.
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the
Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no
condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit.
John 6:63 It is the spirit that
quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they
are spirit, and they are life.
John 20:22 And when he
had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy
Ghost.
We must understand that our flesh is always going to be at enmity against
our spirit. Our flesh is the avenue by which the enemy can attack us. Just as
he tempted Jesus in the wilderness, his avenue of attack is always through the
lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. When our flesh
is in submission to our spirit, there is no avenue of attack. Notice what Jesus
did when he appeared to the disciples after his resurrection.
He breathed on them (imparted Spirit unto them). God is a Spirit, and they
that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in truth. The only way we can
commune with God is by our Spirit. Our body will return to dust; while our
spirit will live for eternity. The Words that Jesus spoke are Spirit and they
are Life. As we accept, absorb and believe all that Jesus said, His life is
imparted into us. God said in 1 Samuel "obedience is better than sacrifice."
Jesus said, "Those that love me will keep my commandments." Obedience
is a form of worship. May we not be guilty of the same thing that Cain did,
offering an unacceptable sacrifice. May we be fully aware of what Paul meant in
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (form of
worship). We become a living sacrifice
as we walk in the Spirit rather than from our flesh. We become transformed, as
we believe the Words that Jesus said above the clamor of our reasoning mind.
Many begin this journey only to quit when they encounter opposition. We
must accept that we are called to follow the example set by our Lord. Hebrews
2:10 For it became him, for whom
are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory,
to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. We too must suffer many things if we would come to spiritual perfection. 1
Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who
hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have
suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you. If we would try to preserve our flesh; to avoid any kind of suffering; we
will never be changed. Suffering brings perfection. As Peter stated above, as
we endure whatever suffering has been appointed for us to experience, we will
come through stronger, securely established in the knowledge of God.
The beginning of our transformation (from a self centered individual to a
God centered individual) is grounded in our love for God. Man's focus has long
been centered on God's love for us; what we can get from God. It is important
for us to reciprocate God's love, by loving Him in return. As we focus more and
more on how we can love God; we will draw ever closer to Him in an ever more
intimate relationship. The simplicity of this is that all we have to do is love
and obey. Not putting our trust in man or material things, but resting in a
personal knowledge of God's love. The more real God becomes to us, the easier
it is to obey. The things of the Spirit will become more of a reality in our
lives than this physical world we live in. Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son
of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of
Christ. This
is what we are saved for!
Haven't we spent enough of our lives conforming to the world; trying to
please men? The Amplified translation for Ephesians 4:13-15, [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the
comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that we
might arrive at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is
nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure
of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.
So then, we may no longer be children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between
chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine,
[the prey of] cunning and cleverness of unscrupulous men, [gamblers engaged] in
every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead. Rather, let our
lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, living truly].
Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is
the Head, [even] Christ(the Messiah, the Anointed One).
If we will seek to know God with all our heart, we will know the truth and
we will be set free. So the choice lies with each one of us. Do we love God, or
are we only willing to believe that God loves us? Do we want to continue
conforming to this world, or do we want to be transformed into the image of
Christ?
John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
