DO NOT CONFORM TO THE PATTERN OF THE WORLD

Romans 12:1-8 / Keywords 12:2

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 God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 

A Living Sacrifice

12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 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.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Footnotes

a. Romans 12:6 Or the

b. Romans 12:8 Or to provide for others

1. Paul exhorts the readers to offer their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. God wants us to offer ourselves to him. We many times are hesitant to offer ourselves to God. We would rather hold onto our life, dream, wealth, and plan for ourselves rather than offer them to God. Verse 2 commands us: Do not conform to the pattern of this world. It is easy to conform to the pattern of this world. We tend to follow popular ideas, popular ways of living. When people of this world indulge in material gains and pleasure-seeking lives, we are tempted to follow them, too.

 

2. However, Paul is warning us not to do that. He says, “But be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This means to repent. We need to quickly repent and turn back to God, even when the people around us seem to be enjoying their lives patterned to the world. People of Noah’s time were getting married and given in marriage according to their fleshy desires and following the popular ideas of that time. But they all perished in the flood.

 

Prayer Lord, please guide our hearts and minds, so we may not follow the pattern of this world, but rather be transformed by the renewing of our mind.

One Word Do not conform to the pattern of this world