Romans 12:2

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2 ESV). The chapter that our verse is in opens with the statement “I appeal to you therefore,” which is a challenge based on some previous information. The appeal has two parts and includes our verse. First, we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, and second, we are not to be conformed to this world, but what was this appeal prompted by? Going back to the end of the previous chapter we find: “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” (Romans 11:33 ESV). Knowing what God is like we are then challenged to be discerning in our relationship with him.

Our verse covers the second part of the appeal which we need to embrace today if we are to walk in holiness and righteousness before our God. First is the command: “do not be conformed to this world.” The cares of the world and the deceitfulness of it's riches tends to cause the word we receive to be unfruitful (Matthew 13:22) and if this relationship with the world grows into a love relationship, then we do not have the love of the Father in us (1 John 2:15).

We are not to be conformed to this world, but instead we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. The spirit of our minds are to be renewed by the knowledge of him through a study of the word (2 Timothy 2:15) in which we learn about God and how he wants us to live and relate to him. With renewed minds we are then able to know what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Prayer

Father, how little we understand the importance or willingness to sacrifice ourselves in serving you or in renewing our minds to have the mind of Christ. Our love seems to be growing cold and we are losing the desire and do not see the importance of dying to self and allowing Jesus Christ to live in and through us. We are becoming more attracted to the world and its things than we are to you and your eternal benefits. Unfortunately, we have come to the place where we don’t know what we are missing and don’t care to know. Father, have mercy on us for we are becoming a poor reflection of the image of Jesus Christ.