Mid-Week Word for July 10th: Romans 12:1-3 “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Many of you know I enjoy running. Since moving to Palm Coast, I’ve gotten involved in the Flagler County Runners group, and it’s helpful for me to hang around a bunch of people who know a lot more about running and physical fitness than I. So I listen, I observe, I ask questions. Basic things like running shoes, hydration, types of work out routines.... all of those are important if you seek to improve. There is a blessing in conformity. If you want to be a better runner, then you ought to seek out better runners. Pretty logical, isn’t it? In this reading, however, we’re warned about a different kind of conformity. Paul warns us against copying (conforming to) the behaviors and customs of this world. Much like I wouldn’t necessarily want to take my physical fitness cues from someone who eats McDonald’s every day, we want to be careful about the patterns of behavior we imitate. The world at general does not always think first about our walk as Christians. So when we observe the habits, the morality, the way of relating to each other, etc., prevalent in this world, we have to take it with a grain of salt. Much like the habitual McDonald’s consumer is probably not primarily interested in physical fitness, so the habits and patterns of this world are not designed to make you a more devoted follower of Jesus Christ. Instead, Paul urges us, “let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” Take some time today to dwell on that. Is God your primary influence? Why or why not? Do you trust Him to lead you to more godly behavior? Or do you consult sources that might have a different agenda? God’s call on us is for conformity. Conformity to His Word and His ways. And there is no better way to get spiritually fit than by going to the Source. In Christ, Pastor Chris
Posted on: Wed, 10 Jul 2013 12:40:47 +0000
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