"Do not conform any longer 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 the will of God is — His good, pleasing, and perfect will." Romans 12:2
Most of us need the admonishment Paul gave the church of Rome daily. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world." How easy it is to fall in line with the herd of sheep and just follow. We just go with the flow. It becomes a pattern in our lives believing we are doing the right thing. This world and all that’s in it is temporal. It focuses on the physical realm which is making a living by the sweat of our brow. Most often it is parenting or caring for grandchildren which aren’t bad things. Then there are the pleasures of this world and self indulgence we reward ourselves with. Before we know it we are swallowed up by the cares of this world forgetting what we were created for.
What were we created for according to scripture? God tells His children we were created to love Him with all our heart, mind, body , soul, and strength. He said this in three of the gospels defining it as the most important commandment ever given. It originated in Deuteronomy 6:4-7. (Matthew 22:34-40, Luke 10:25-28, Mark 28-32) Therefore we know the most important relationship in our lives is with our Heavenly Father. This relationship being right determines all the other relationships in your life. God knew that when He commanded us to love Him above all else. When we obey, He is able to reveal to us how much He loves us! Then we become capable of loving others as He loves us. God is relational. We were created in His image. Again, our greatest purpose in life is to focus moment by moment on loving God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Most people I know are so busy conforming to the pattern of this world it is difficult to see a difference in the lives of God’s children. Therefore there is no light in the darkness so desperately needed at this time in our nation. To solve this dilemma we need God’s Word and a strong prayer life. We can and must be transformed by renewing our mind with His wisdom and truth. Man’s knowledge without the wisdom of the one who created him is self destructive. Look around you! Until we allow God to govern our lives we cannot govern ourselves as individuals and certainly not as a nation. God must govern our lives before we can govern our own families. Families make up our society. His ways are much higher than ours! (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Paul tells us only then will we be able to test and approve what the will of God is. God created each one of us with a specific purpose. We must obey the first commandment making Him our first love. That must be obeyed before He can reveal to you personally His will for your life — His good, pleasing, perfect will. Nothing you are pursuing in this world offers any eternal value. Will we allow ourselves to be continuously distracted from our true eternal destiny? I pray not!
In His love.
Teresa Roberts
Masterpiece Fitness
276-237-6680
To my sheer delight the mountain laurel is in full bloom upon Pilot Mountain, NC. Seize the moment before it passes! A bit like our lives…
