Stop it. (Devotion)

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be t ransformed by the renewal of your mind..." (Rom. 12:2)

When this text speaks of this world, it is talking about the "world order" around us, which would mean the standards and ethics of a world system under the control of satan. One paraphrase says, "Don't let the world squeeze you into its mold." In the Greek text the command is literally, "Stop being conformed." In other words, don't let the standards of the world system guide you in your lifestyle. Instead, let God transform you.

One of the difficulties is sorting through what is our responsibility and what is God's. The scripture does not teach that the Christian life is lived by imitating Jesus. It is not thinking hard, "What would Jesus do" and then trying to do it. The Christian life is about reproduction. It is staying so connected to Christ that the Holy Spirit produces the new life in us.

Our responsibility then is to cooperate. We are to daily choose to not adopt the world order, but to stay yielded to Christ. We are to stop letting the world squeeze us into its mold. We are to actively allow the Holy Spirit to guide us. That means, "We say 'Yes' to His promptings, and "no" to temptation when it comes.

God has promised in I Cor. 10:13 to show us the way out of every temptation that comes, if we will look to Him. Paul wrote to the Phillipian church that we are to work out what God has worked in. So today, cooperate with God. He wants to transform our character.