Romans 12:1-2
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.” vs. 2
As Paul comes to the end of his letter to the Romans he has some words of insight and advice about how they should live in their challenging, rapidly changing environment. “Do not be conformed to this world,” he says, and the reminder hits home. It is so easy to be sucked into the standards of our culture and society…and it may now be worse than ever. Our social media, the sports and entertainment industry, economic expectations–where should we stop? Everyone wants a piece of us…the marketing never ends. We have hand-held communication devices that keep us instantaneously connected with our hundreds of contacts and…the smarter our phones, the dumber and more anxious we become! Uninterrupted conversations even with friends are becoming a rarity…and we seem powerless to escape…even vacations give no respite or relief. Paul says the alternative to conformity is the transformation that comes through the renewal of our minds. The object is to discern the will of God in the mixed up jumble of possibilities facing us. Only as we move in that direction will we discover what is good and acceptable, the life that is pleasing to God. And who knows, the renewal of our minds might very well start on the day we turn off our smart phones!
Thought for the Day: What would be a good way for me to renew my mind?
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