“TRANSFORMING, NOT CONFORMING”

In Romans 12:2, Paul says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” It is a simple instruction to stand out from the world. Learning how to think differently is not always an easy task for one who has been immersed in a worldly lifestyle for several years. It also can be difficult for someone who might be surrounded by people who are worldly thinking.

Paul does not leave us hanging by merely telling us to transform by renewing our minds, he also includes steps on how to do this. First, he says, in verse 3, not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think. We must remember that by His grace, God offered salvation to us. Without Him, we are nothing. There is no room for arrogance in our relationship with God.

Jumping down to Romans 12:9, we are told to love without hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is saying one thing and doing another or pretending to be something you are not. Love is an action word so we cannot say we love and not prove it with our actions. That means we always want what is best for those we love.

Paul then goes on to say abhor what was is evil. Abhor means to hate or detest. Whether we like it or not, evil will influence us, especially if we invite evil into our lives. Things that are not of God should be avoided. I once heard someone say, “Evil should turn our stomachs.” As Christians, I believe most of us have “guilty pleasures,” however if they are not proving God’s good, acceptable, and perfect will, they do not need to be part of our lives.

Finally, Paul says to cling what is good. This gives the mental image of someone holding on for dear life to a floating log in a storm in the middle of the sea. God is good and we must cling to Him. His word must be our standard of life. Clinging to what is good means we understand the nature of God. John put it like this in I John 1:5-God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. Clinging to what is good means holding fast to God and not letting go for any reason.

Transforming our minds takes a conscience effort to control the way we think. The world is always trying to influence us, yet God offers so much more. As we transform our minds, our lives will reflect God and the darkness will fade.

Read Romans 12:1-21