Be
Transformed by Renewing Your Mind!
"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.
The context
of this statement is Paul writing to his brothers and sisters
in Christ and encouraging them to recognize that by the mercies
of God our bodies and souls are united with Christ and with
one another (Romans 12:4, 5); and he is appealing to those
who will listen to "not be confirmed to this world, but
be transformed by the renewing of your mind" Romans 12:1,
2.
In our
previous meditation, "What We Focus On Is What We Get!"
there was a quotation from Solomon, "The backslider in
heart will be filled with his own ways, but a good man will
be satisfied from above" Proverbs 14:14. What is the
meaning of being "satisfied from above"? John the
Baptist answered this question in response to the questioning
of some of his disciples and others about Jesus. He said,
"A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to
him from heaven… He who comes from above is above all;
he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth.
He who comes from heaven is above all" John 3:27, 21.
Jesus
also addressed this with some unbelieving Jews when He said
to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You
are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said
to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe
that I am He (the Christ), you will die in your sins"
John 8:23, 24.
"I
am from above… I am not of this world" is Christ's
declaration of Divinity to those with whom He spoke. And there
are consequences of listening to instruction "from above"
or ignoring it, ether way.
Paul
had been a persecutor of the followers of Christ until the
day he had a vision of Christ on his way to persecute Christ's
followers in Damascus. The experience is recorded in Acts
9. His life was changed "from above" and he became
a witness for Christ to the gentile world.
Inspiration
from above that is shared with us through the Scriptures changes
lives; and Paul here is challenging those who will listen
too and study the Scriptures, they will "be transformed"
by the renewing of their minds; and they will understand "the
good and acceptable will of God!"
Romans
12:2 is not the only instruction that Paul wrote that challenges
us to prove the Scriptures and the will of God. He wrote to
the Thessalonians, "Do not despise prophecies. Test all
things (some translations say Prove all things); hold fast
to what is good" 1 Thessalonians 5:20, 21.
For those
who will listen and pay attention to the Word of God, they
will come to know God the Father and the Son and understand
Their purpose for their lives.
There
is a caution to be aware of regarding transformation from
above and transformation from below. There are many gurus'
promoting transformation programs in our world today and not
many of them give recognition to the God above.
Paul
wrote of "false apostles, deceitful workers" and
some of them claim to be "apostles of Christ. And no
wonder, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel
of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers
also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness,
whose end will be according to their works" 2 Corinthians
11:13-15.
How do
you protect yourself against a counterfeit? By focusing on
a true model. God has given us instruction on this through
Isaiah when he wrote, "To the law and to the testimony,
if they do not speak according to this word it is because
there is no light in them" Isaiah 8:20.
Jesus
emphasized this rule when speaking to Pharisees who accused
Christ's disciples of transgressing traditions of the elders?
He said, "Why do you also transgress the commandment
of God because of your tradition… These people draw near
to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their
heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching
as doctrines the commandments of men" Matthew 15:1-9.
Be transformed
by the renewing of your mind, however, be careful who you
are following and who's instruction you are reading and listening
too. Is it from above or is it earthy, is it from God or a
tradition of men?
Keep
your eyes focused on instructions from God the Father especially
through Jesus Christ, and you will be blessed.
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