Romans 12:1-2
Verse 2 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.
We mentioned yesterday how Paul was calling out the futile thinking of the Gentiles. By his telling the Ephesian believers they should leave their former way of thinking he was telling them they must embrace a new way of thinking. The people of Ephesus weren’t the only ones Paul told to renew their thinking.
Our reading for the day shows Paul’s desire to help the Romans understand the way they could begin to know God in a deeper way and become the followers which would bring Him the most glory. Paul was seeing in the people of his day the same thing we see in our day, believers allowing themselves to be conformed to the world around us. We too often allow our ideas about things be influenced by how those around us are thinking, even if they aren’t believers.
There are many ways we allow that influence into our lives. It can come through social media sources, the movies or TV shows we watch, games we play, books or magazines we read or even the friends we hang around. No matter the source we are allowing into our lives, it is shaping us as we indulge in the activity, either for good or for bad.
This is one of the ways we can renew our thinking. By paying attention to the information we are putting into our brains we can be transforming our thinking, which will in turn lead to transformed lives. This is what Paul was talking about when he told the Ephesians, Jesus made all things new. Of course He isn’t going to make us new if we are still filling our minds with trash or things which are futile.
When we fill our minds with things which help us think as the Father would think we start looking at things differently. We start to see how His plan works things out for the good of all His people. We start looking at people asking ourselves how we can live Christ into them, wondering what we can do so they see Jesus instead of us. We stop asking what we can get out of our relationship with Him and wondering who we can bless because of our relationship with Him.
Making It Personal
What are some things you are putting into your mind which you know are stifling your spiritual growth? What are things you are doing to renew your mind? Is there a certain area of your mind which needs particular renewing?
Making It Personal Kids
What do you think it means to renew your mind? What are some things which could take your mind away from the things Jesus wants you to think about? Do you need to stop doing somethings which takes your mind away from Jesus?
Closing Prayer
Father, we confess we don’t always pay attention to what we are filling our minds with. Help us see where we need to change our habits to allow for more Godly thinking. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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