A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Daily
Encouragement on
Tuesday, January
15, 2019
"Not
Worldly Conformation But Spiritual
Transformation"
Message
summary: The
believer's lifelong goal
should not be worldly
conformation but
spiritual
transformation.
Compromise leads to
conformity and
conformity leads to
defeat.
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"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" (Romans 12:2).
I
walked into a company
last week and Karen, one
of the employees,
greeted me with an
interesting observation
informing me, "You
look taller"! I
smiled and thanked her
although I reckon I had
actually reached my
lifetime peak height of
over 6'2½" at around 18
years of age and now
struggle to reach 6'2".
(I read
that as you age you tend
to lose height.)
However it did get me thinking of another dimension in which I have increased since I was a skinny 18 year old; my weight. I mused that rather than take off weight, what if I could just put on height? I calculate that if I could just put on about 6 inches I would have a much healthier BMI (body mass index)! (Note: If you're interested click on the "Compute BMI" image to the left and it will open to a real BMI calculator.)
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"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" (Romans 12:2).
I
walked into a company
last week and Karen, one
of the employees,
greeted me with an
interesting observation
informing me, "You
look taller"! I
smiled and thanked her
although I reckon I had
actually reached my
lifetime peak height of
over 6'2½" at around 18
years of age and now
struggle to reach 6'2".
(I read
that as you age you tend
to lose height.)However it did get me thinking of another dimension in which I have increased since I was a skinny 18 year old; my weight. I mused that rather than take off weight, what if I could just put on height? I calculate that if I could just put on about 6 inches I would have a much healthier BMI (body mass index)! (Note: If you're interested click on the "Compute BMI" image to the left and it will open to a real BMI calculator.)
Now with all
the commercials for
"weight loss" programs
and products it would
sure be interesting if
there was competition
with similar "height
gain" products!
Well, in life
there are things we can
change and there are
things we can't change
and we do well to
remember that and to
know the difference.
Today let us focus on a
lifelong, ongoing change
for each follower of
Christ expressed in our
daily text, spiritual
transformation.
"Do not conform any
longer to the pattern
of this world, but be
transformed by the
renewing of your
mind."
Yesterday we shared a message about the detailed pattern that the Lord gave Moses concerning the Tabernacle and the good report regarding the Israelite's obedience as recorded in the Book of Exodus. This fundamental teaching reminds us that God is pleased and honored when we follow the pattern for living as set forth in the Holy Scriptures for His people.
But in opposition to this pattern for living as set forth by God is "the pattern of this world". By our fallen human nature we conform to this pattern.
Other versions translate this phrase thusly: JB Phillips: "Stop being poured into the mold by the external and fleeting fashions of this age, but undergo a deep inner change by the qualitative renewing of your mind." The NLT states, "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think." A listing of this verse in many English translations is here.
Paul Fritz observes, "There is always a danger of giving in to the temptations of the world to just feel like being 'normal' in our modern society. Today it is easier to try to fit in, blend in and give in to the popular trends in the world rather than to live by Biblical principles. We are faced with a choice today. We can either decide to give in to the patterns of self-indulgence, carnality and selfishness or we choose to prosper by obeying God’s Word."
We have a responsibility in not conforming any longer to the pattern of this world and in renewing our minds. This transformation is not for a short season, but a lifelong commission. We are being transformed and it seems that this phase will not be complete until the next stage of our existence, when we get to heaven.
J.C.
Philpot, a Bible teacher
who lived in the 1800's
writes, "In proportion
as we are conformed to
the spirit of this
world, our understanding
becomes dull in the
things of God, our
affections cold and
torpid, and our
consciences less tender
and sensitive."
The struggle is ever before us as the tempter never fully leaves us alone no matter how much transformation takes place or how long we've walked with God. Bad habits visible to others may be broken but dealing with inner attitudes can even be more difficult; those attitudes we don't want others to witness. Yet the transforming of the Spirit must take place within and without, for "everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:13).
We must daily come before the throne of God, confess our sins, acknowledge our weaknesses, and ask His help in the transformation. We can align our desires with His by drawing near to Him daily as James 4:8 tells us, "If we draw near to Him He will draw near to us."
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Yesterday we shared a message about the detailed pattern that the Lord gave Moses concerning the Tabernacle and the good report regarding the Israelite's obedience as recorded in the Book of Exodus. This fundamental teaching reminds us that God is pleased and honored when we follow the pattern for living as set forth in the Holy Scriptures for His people.
But in opposition to this pattern for living as set forth by God is "the pattern of this world". By our fallen human nature we conform to this pattern.
Other versions translate this phrase thusly: JB Phillips: "Stop being poured into the mold by the external and fleeting fashions of this age, but undergo a deep inner change by the qualitative renewing of your mind." The NLT states, "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think." A listing of this verse in many English translations is here.
Paul Fritz observes, "There is always a danger of giving in to the temptations of the world to just feel like being 'normal' in our modern society. Today it is easier to try to fit in, blend in and give in to the popular trends in the world rather than to live by Biblical principles. We are faced with a choice today. We can either decide to give in to the patterns of self-indulgence, carnality and selfishness or we choose to prosper by obeying God’s Word."
We have a responsibility in not conforming any longer to the pattern of this world and in renewing our minds. This transformation is not for a short season, but a lifelong commission. We are being transformed and it seems that this phase will not be complete until the next stage of our existence, when we get to heaven.
J.C.
Philpot, a Bible teacher
who lived in the 1800's
writes, "In proportion
as we are conformed to
the spirit of this
world, our understanding
becomes dull in the
things of God, our
affections cold and
torpid, and our
consciences less tender
and sensitive."The struggle is ever before us as the tempter never fully leaves us alone no matter how much transformation takes place or how long we've walked with God. Bad habits visible to others may be broken but dealing with inner attitudes can even be more difficult; those attitudes we don't want others to witness. Yet the transforming of the Spirit must take place within and without, for "everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:13).
We must daily come before the throne of God, confess our sins, acknowledge our weaknesses, and ask His help in the transformation. We can align our desires with His by drawing near to Him daily as James 4:8 tells us, "If we draw near to Him He will draw near to us."
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father,
we invite the work of
Your Holy Spirit to
descend upon our
heart, to wean it from
ungodly attitudes,
destructive habits,
and worldly passions.
In love and compassion
You stooped to our
weakness, mighty as
You are, in the person
of Jesus Christ who
lived a life of
holiness, and
willingly laid down
His life that we might
be forgiven, that our
hearts and minds might
break conformity from
this world and be
transformed into the
pattern of holy
living. As we
surrender our heart,
soul, and mind to You
we see the cross of
Jesus, and as we cling
to His cross we deny
ourselves, take up our
own cross, and follow
in His footsteps
wholeheartedly. We
thank You for the
wooing of Your Holy
Spirit that assists
and encourages us as
we withdraw our
allegiance from the
affections of this
world. It's through
the power of Christ
that we are able to
make this mighty,
eternal
transformation. Amen.Stephen's Note: Today's text is one of the very first Scriptures I put to memory in my early days of walking with Christ. In fact I recall when I was in High School an older mentor named Dave sat down with me in a restaurant in Independence Missouri. He taught from this verse using a paper napkin with the outline of a head. Dave described how in our sinful nature we had been conformed to the pattern of this world with a variety of clutter that fills our minds with the pattern of this world. He stressed how we need to be transformed by the renewing of our minds and he shared various means through which our mind is renewed.
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"One Day (When We All Get To Heaven)" Video Matt Redman (A different version than used yesterday; this one is recorded in a live worship setting and has a much fuller sound as people join in.)
Brooksyne's
note: Our choir sang this
again for Monday evening worship
and it was a great blessing as it
was on Sunday morning in both
services. After we warmed up on
this song Monday night a "fellow"
soprano, Joyce, leaned over and
whispered in my ear, "the line
that really gets me excited when
we sing this song is: 'One
day all this struggle will cease
and we will see Your glory
revealed on that day!'" Joyce's
husband died a few years ago and
left her as a young widow, and no
doubt, she has faced the struggle
of being alone ever since.
One day You’ll make
everything new, Jesus
One day You will bind
every wound
The former things shall
all pass away
No more tears
One day You’ll make
sense of it all, Jesus
One day every question
resolved
Every anxious thought
left behind
No more fear
When we all get to
heaven
What a day of rejoicing
that will be
When we all see Jesus
We'll sing and shout
the victory
One day we will see
face to face, Jesus
Is there a greater
vision of grace
And in a moment, we
shall be changed
On that day
And one day we’ll be
free, free indeed, Jesus
One day all this
struggle will cease
And we will see Your
glory revealed
On that day
Finally today: We
didn't expect it but were warmed
by the many kind expressions
emailed by our readers yesterday
about our 17½ year old Dottie
dying in the early morning hour
Saturday in Ester's arms. As could
be expected Ester is digging
through all our printed photos of
Dottie back when we actually
printed out photos and she came
across several including this one.
Dottie is only a few weeks old and
Ester has her wrapped in her
Precious Moments baby blanket.
Ester is 12 in this photo in 2001.
As many of you know Ester deals with atrial flutter causing her heart to soar over 220 BPM. It first happened when she was 11 after my dad died. She has often dealt with A/F after there was a loss in her life for which she was grieving. In more recent years it occurs when she is being active or otherwise. She commented to me today, "Mom, I can't believe I didn't have atrial flutter since Dottie actually died in my arms." I hadn't given it much thought but after she reminded me I considered it a blessing that she could deal with deep emotion and sadness and not go into atrial flutter. Thank you for your kind words and even the prayers spoken for the grief Ester is experiencing over the loss of her cat. Several of you mentioned you have had the same kind of loss with longtime pets which gives you empathy for our loss. Thanks for taking the time to write!
As many of you know Ester deals with atrial flutter causing her heart to soar over 220 BPM. It first happened when she was 11 after my dad died. She has often dealt with A/F after there was a loss in her life for which she was grieving. In more recent years it occurs when she is being active or otherwise. She commented to me today, "Mom, I can't believe I didn't have atrial flutter since Dottie actually died in my arms." I hadn't given it much thought but after she reminded me I considered it a blessing that she could deal with deep emotion and sadness and not go into atrial flutter. Thank you for your kind words and even the prayers spoken for the grief Ester is experiencing over the loss of her cat. Several of you mentioned you have had the same kind of loss with longtime pets which gives you empathy for our loss. Thanks for taking the time to write!
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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