Conformed or Transformed?

“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

As I was reading this Scripture this morning, the image of clay came to mind. When the clay is placed upon the potter’s wheel, it is soft and malleable, easily molded this way or that. The clay has no idea what it will become but the potter does – he has a plan and a purpose for each lump of clay before he even begins.

The Bible compares God to a potter. He is the one who molds and fashions us by transforming us from a clump of clay into a vessel that is useful for His kingdom. I love the way The Message translates this verse, “Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it.”

When faced with choices or life-altering decisions, don’t readily embrace the values and behaviors of our current society. Turn away from habits and lifestyles that do not support your better self. Instead, resolve to let His Word and His Spirit be the filters through which you approach life. Then you will be able to discern what is good, acceptable, and perfect in His sight.

Prayer: May all that I say and do, Lord, be pleasing in your sight. Daily, adjust my pattern of thinking so it aligns with your will. In your name I pray, Amen.

Thought: “Renewing the mind is a little like refinishing furniture. It is a two-stage process. It involves taking off the old and replacing it with the new. The old is the lies you have learned to tell or were taught by those around you; it is the attitudes and ideas that have become a part of your thinking but do not reflect reality. The new is the truth. To renew your mind is to involve yourself in the process of allowing God to bring to the surface the lies you have mistakenly accepted and replace them with truth. To the degree that you do this, your behaviour will be transformed.” Charles Stanley