Pam Padgett ... teacher
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies
of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be
not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what
is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Some of the definitions of the word "conform" especially stood out
to me, and I considered them in context of what we're told here ...
be not conformed to this world:
- don't be like those of this world
- don't be in accord or agreement with the ways of this
world
- don't behave as those of this world, especially in
accepting without question customs, traditions, prevailing
opinions (Instead, we consider what has God said about
this?)
Those of the world expect us to be like them, to agree with them, to
behave like them. And our flesh wants to please and be accepted by
other flesh.
But we are no longer of this world, no longer to be molded and
formed by ways of the world. We've been chosen by God.
We're now the workmanship of God, transformed (changed) from the
ways we were once taught, and conformed to God by His word.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained
that we should walk in them.
As a skilled workman molds and forms materials, we are molded and
formed by each word God gives to us by the Holy Spirit, as we think
on and do that word.