“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
To “be conformed” is a passive result of not doing anything. If we are just “being”, we are being conformed to the world around us. We see it, hear it, and pretty soon begin to think like it. We don’t have to search out the messages around us that are contrary to the mind of God…they seep into our being by our mere existence.
To be transformed requires deliberate action of the mind. A steady “washing” with that which is “true, honest, just, pure, praiseworthy and virtuous”.
Do I bring the influences of my mind under that scrutiny? That of my children’s minds? Am I being deliberate about the renewal of my mind?
Because Scripture says that unless I actively renew my mind with what is other-worldly, I cannot know the good, acceptable, perfect will of God.
May we love His Word and what it teaches us more and more each day.
10 comments
Amen!! It is true that it is a constant “washing”. It is easy to think “oh I put in my time with Bible study or prayer last week, it should last me through the week”. But it is not so! Thank you for reminding me that it is a constant action. God bless!
This is so encouraging to me today! Thank you for the reminder that even ‘little’ decisions made throughout the day (made in obedience to God’s Word) mean a lot. Sometimes I forget that these ‘baby steps’ are what make up major movements. 🙂
I just love the opening verses of Romans 12…they are so full of hope, that we children of God can PROVE what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit! An amazing and beautiful truth that the human mind, in all its sin-sick weakness, can be renewed by the power of God resting in us! What a great thing to meditate on, and what a tragedy when we do not seek to be reminded of these powerful truths through frequent immersion in His Holy Word. We are going to conform to something, and if we’re not regularly in the Word, our minds will default to base instincts.
I was also reminded of 2 Corinthians 10:5, especially the last part: “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” I always have to ask myself, am I taking my every thought captive to the obedience of Christ? It’s much easier for me to focus on my words and deeds because those are the things by which people know me. But God knows *all* of me, including the thoughts I don’t dare share with any human. Am I more concerned with what people see of me than what God desires from me, including in my thought life? And do I bring the influences of *my* mind under scrutiny (as you wisely pointed out in your post, Kelly)? Am I undermining the work of the Spirit in renewing my mind when I allow myself do dwell on thoughts that are not true, virtuous, of good report, and so on? I need to think on these things often.
Kelly, you always get me digging deeper into the Word with posts like this! And I have to thank you for it. God is using you to ignite in me a stronger passion for delving farther into the Word, and I always come away from deeper study feeling very blessed! Thank you very very much!
Arrows–what an encouragement to me…thank you!
Very true! Lord help us to be trandformed to your image and not to passively conformed to the world.
What a simple, straight-forward description of what it means to submit to the spirit. It truly is so easy to conform to this world. We simply become what we are surrounded by unless we actively work to oppose it. Great post! Thank you Kelly!!
Truth spoken so well, as always. Thanks for making me examine myself.
Wow. Harsh in a really good way. Watching my mind more carefully! It is easy to be fooled into thinking, “I’m not thinking lustfully, hatefully, condemningly (is that a word?)”, you know, all the big ones that we can feel superior to because those are the big, easy ones to identify.
Great reminder “A steady ‘washing’ with that which is ‘true, honest, just, pure, praiseworthy and virtuous’”. Just because a thought does not seem bad, does not mean it is in obedience to the above quote from the Bible.
Remembering this today and always, God willing.
[…] Kellly’s short, yet excellent post reminds us that if we do nothing, we will be conformed to this world. It takes thought and effort to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. It takes self-examination and a constant questioning of what we do and say. This is what we’re talking about when we say vision. If we don’t have God’s vision in any particular area, then we’ve borrowed the world’s. He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth. […]
Dear Kelly,
It makes me think of all the times/ways I have become passive in areas of my life, especially during busy times of life. Thanks for the “shot in the arm” type of truth. I pray that the Lord will reveal these passive areas so that I may deal with them appropriately.
Merry Christmas & Many Blessings in the New Year.
Jerene