Jim Wolf a Grand Rapids homeless man recently underwent a
physical transformation. There is a youtube video detailing the transformation.
He got a hair cut, new clothes and looked great. The before and after pictures
are incredible. Paul implores us Christians to under go a spiritual transformation,
not unlike the physical transformation Jim Wolf under went. Paul tells us: “Do
not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.”
(Romans 12:2) In other words: “Hey Christian now that you are in Christ, don’t
go along with the world’s destructive ways. Don’t go along with the crowd just
to fit in. Don’t go along to get along.”
You now have to be intentional about heading in the direction you in Christ
committed to. You are now a Jesus follower, living by the book (God’s word).
It occurs to me that many of us are not intentionally
setting out to conform to this world. Yet the movies, music, video games,
magazines and things we entertain ourselves with are systematically programming
our minds. Our minds are being anchored in this world’s system. We fail to see
that there is no neutral ground on this one. The things we listen to, watch,
play and read are having a profound influence on us. They are conforming our
minds to the ways of this world and ultimately to the ways of the Devil-destruction
of self and others. The clothes we wear, the way we wear them, the way we spend
our time, the places we frequent, the way we spend our money, all speak to what
and whom we are conforming to.
Many of us find it difficult to read through the Bible but
can not miss an episode of (fill in the blank). We can not find time to
participate in Bible study or accountability group, yet are spending hours
playing video games. We find it difficult to sponsor God’s work, but do not
think twice about blowing money on the premier of the latest movie or buying
the latest gadget. Church attendance is diminishing but our time on facebook
and other social media continues to go up.
How can we stop conforming to the world standards?
The only way is to saturate our minds with the word of God.
The transformation of our minds comes as we expose our minds to God’s truth
through faithful study of God’s word. We want to renew our minds through
reading, studying, meditating, singing, speaking and memorizing God’s word. Our
arch enemy the Devil is well aware of this truth. So, he works hard to keep us
from God’s word, fellowship and church attendance, personal and group Bible
study, meditating and singing God’s word. Is it not true that making time for
personal devotions is a constant battle? Many times you are “too busy” or
interruptions seem to “pop up” from no where as we try to get into God’s word.
We have an enemy that is working overtime to keep us from engaging God’s word.
Renewing our minds takes Holy Spirit power and obedient self
discipline and there are no short cuts. We can not simply take a renewing of
the mind pill and wake up with a completely renewed mind.
Pray to our Lord to give you a deep hunger and thirst for
his word. Then set out to pump your mind full of God’s word. “Father renew our
minds we pray!”
Pastor Cisco
