This is The Way – Devo Day 31

Tell me to what you pay attention and I will tell you who you are.

Jose Ortega y Gasset, Spanish philosopher

It’s amazing how accurate a personal profile can be compiled from your online purchases, your calendar, your social media feed, your video/audio streaming selections, the books your read, the podcasts you listen to, and the video you watch. It’s also pretty scary when we realize how much we have been influenced by Madison Avenue, Wall Street, Washington DC, Hollywood, Major League Sports, and Silicon Valley. Paul warned the church of Rome about the influences of the world and the culture around them. It’s just a couple verses but they speak clearly to our day as well.

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Romans 12:1 (ESV)

The Apostle Paul begins with an appeal for the believers to act on their faith and make conscious choices in life based on what Christ has done for them. “By the mercies of God” refers to the mercies God has already shown us:

1. Forgiveness of sin
2. Justification from guilt and shame
3. Adoption into God’s family
4. Identification with Christ
5. No longer under the law but rather grace
6. Given the indwelling Spirit of God
7. Hope in Christ’s return and our resurrection
8. The promise of eternal life in God’s presence

The reality of these mercies solicits a response in true believers – “present your bodies as a living sacrifice.” This is dying to self to be made alive to God (born again). The apostle also says that our sacrifice is to be offered as worship, “holy and acceptable to God.” The holiness we bring to the altar is a desire and decision for holiness and a yielding to the ongoing work of sanctification in our life. As we present ourselves as a living sacrifice, God makes our life holy by burning away the impurities. Paul says that this sacrifice is reasonable in light of what Christ has done for us.

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:2 (ESV)

The Apostle says that the world, the culture we live in, has a viewpoint, a way of thinking, and a value system that is in rebellion to God and opposes His will and purposes. But he warns that it is not just in opposition to God, it actively seeks to conform all to its ungodly pattern of thinking and living. There can be no neutral response. Worldly influence must be resisted, opposed.

Paul says that we can only resist by being “transformed by the renewal of your mind.” It’s easy to say, “I don’t want to be conformed to this world” and “I want to be transformed,” but how does that happen?

Many Christians live a life based on feelings. “How do I feel about my spouse, my job, my church, …” And then they make decisions and take action based on those feelings. Other Christians are consumed with doing and don’t think about what or why they do it. Both are inadequate foundations for a Christ-like life. Neither takes the steps to renew their minds and ask for God’s viewpoint or to seek His will.

So how do you have your mind transformed so that you might know “the will of God” and “what is good, acceptable, and perfect” to God?

1. Keep reminding yourself of the richness of God’s mercies already given to you (see list above).
2. It is only reasonable worship to offer yourself, your life, in response to God’s mercies toward you.
3. Resist conformity to the thoughts, attitudes, and actions of this world. Turn away from everything that dishonors and opposes God.
4. Read, study, meditate on, and memorize God’s Word. Allow it to take up residence in your thoughts and heart.
5. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak through Scripture and directly to you concerning His work of sanctification in you and His empowering for the furthering of God’s Kingdom.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind – This is The Way

Romans 12:2a (ESV)

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

1. What mercies of God are real to you? How have they impacted you?
2. How has God’s Word transformed your mind?
3. What areas of your life and thinking are still conformed to the world? What could you do to cooperate with the transformative work of the Holy Spirit?

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