Don’t Follow the World
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)
When I was about ten years old, my Mom made me memorize the first two verses of Romans Chapter 12. As a child, that seemed like a lot of words. Worse, reading them in the King James Version made no sense to me. I was finally able to quote the words perfectly, but I told my mom I didn’t understand what they meant. She knew that and was ready. She explained that my understanding would develop as I grew up.
Right then, I realized that I shouldn’t embrace whatever everyone said was all right. She knew I needed to decide what I would do. She wanted me to do the right thing. The way I would know the right thing was by daily renewing my mind and keeping my eyes on Jesus. That made sense even to a 10-year-old boy.
My mom was very wise. She taught me Scriptures that she knew I would grow into; and those verses have stayed embedded in my mind. The concept of not conforming to the world seems more critical today than ever before. Our world is like a ship with no rudder or bearing. As believers, we need to be transformed daily by the renewing of our minds, so that we may prove what the will of God is.
When I was about ten years old, my Mom made me memorize the first two verses of Romans Chapter 12. As a child, that seemed like a lot of words. Worse, reading them in the King James Version made no sense to me. I was finally able to quote the words perfectly, but I told my mom I didn’t understand what they meant. She knew that and was ready. She explained that my understanding would develop as I grew up.
Right then, I realized that I shouldn’t embrace whatever everyone said was all right. She knew I needed to decide what I would do. She wanted me to do the right thing. The way I would know the right thing was by daily renewing my mind and keeping my eyes on Jesus. That made sense even to a 10-year-old boy.
My mom was very wise. She taught me Scriptures that she knew I would grow into; and those verses have stayed embedded in my mind. The concept of not conforming to the world seems more critical today than ever before. Our world is like a ship with no rudder or bearing. As believers, we need to be transformed daily by the renewing of our minds, so that we may prove what the will of God is.
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3 Comments
We learned scriptures like that at Bible school.
I like having my mind transformed to God's way. The world around me thinks that you can't get through each day without drugs. I see that more and more as time goes on. Or the having to buy things all the time. I am glad that I have God's Word to read every day. I like feeling of being loved and valued
How wonderful for you to have a Christian Mother. I did not. She was a practicing alcoholic and violent with her words and actions. I prayed for her and witnessed to her which made her even more angry. I am old now and still loving our Lord. I am a Christian Mother, Grandmother and great grandmo th and it's a JOY. !! God bless your HOLIdays. For all the millions of children who are out there remember you are LOVED by a Father who died for you.