A New Way of Living

 "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2)

In Paul's letter to the Romans, he found it imperative to address the need for a new way of thinking, a way that was much different from the world that they lived in.  Of course, we find this matter being brought to the forefront throughout scripture. Yahweh continuously warned Israel against adapting the ways of thinking and living practiced by the nations that existed around them.  In Psalm 1, David spells out clearly that there are two ways of living; one is to follow the Lord and His ways and the other is to ascribe to the counsel of the ungodly.  It almost goes without saying that Jesus spent much of His teaching ministry drawing clear distinctions as well.  He said His followers were to remain in this world but not be of this world. Further He spoke of those following Him as farmers who put their hands to the plow, looking forward and not backward.  He also said that darkness has no fellowship with light.  A great deal can be said about the enormous emphasis Almighty God has placed on this theme throughout scripture, from Genesis to Revelation.

It's a serious challenge to be able to live in a place where philosophies, values, objectives and ideals are often far removed from those of God.  Paul makes an interesting point by telling the Romans, and all followers of Christ, that they should not hold their lives to the standards and expectations of the culture that they were surrounded by.  Conformity to this world will always find support from the majority, but Paul is instructing us not to use the world's expectations and standards of acceptability as our measuring stick.  The measuring stick for followers of Christ is the inexhaustible wealth of facts, wisdom, instruction and counsel that make up His word, preserved for us in the Holy Bible.  The Word, coupled with the Holy Spirit's working within believers, has transforming power. This transforming occurs through a renewing of mind.  Popular consensus might dictate that compassion is fine as long as it is practiced out of convenience.  Jesus said we should love our neighbors as ourselves and that we should help whenever it is in our ability to do so.  The world may say that there is nothing wrong with lust, and that overt sexuality is a show of security.  On the other hand, Jesus said if a man looks at a woman in lust he has committed adultery in his heart. Our society may dictate that education, career and a high-paying job are the defining points of true success and the "making something of oneself".  Jesus said there is no profit in gaining the whole world and losing one's soul.  He said if we're to be rich, we need to be rich toward God and rather than placing emphasis on great worldly wealth, we should store our treasures in heaven.

God's ways and the world's ways are always clashing, though, unfortunately, we often try to reconcile them.  I believe we as believers need to have a keen sense of awareness of the differences and not allow our lives to be shaped and characterized by just going with the flow.  Going against the flow is not easy; it requires energy, determination and perseverance.  Thankfully, God provides His Spirit to live inside believers, therefore giving us power to accomplish what we never could on our own.  May we strive to cooperate with God, the Potter, as He desires to shape us and make us into the peculiar people He intends; people who will endeavor to know and love Him, to live to His standards and represent Him to others, showing them the Way.