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. 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. (Romans 12.1-2 NIV)
“Paul is effectively saying that every person is either being conformed or transformed… It is by believing the Gospel—God’s self-revelation in Jesus, personally applied by the Holy Spirit—that the transformation of which Paul speaks, the ‘renewing of the mind,’ begins to take place. The essence of the renewed mind is putting God back where he rightly belongs as the supreme object of value and authority… ‘It begins with seeing things differently with God at the centre of the solar system of our affections, our attitudes and our words, so that glorious, massive, resplendent reality which is God will exercise his gravitational pull on every piece of our lives. The result is that they come into their proper orbit in relation to one another rather than smashing into one another and ruining everything.’” (M. Tinker, “The Mind on Fire: Loving God with Your Mind,” Churchman, 131, 2, Sum 2017, 157-170)
Let’s pray: Lord, may I be transformed by the renewing of my mind. Immerse me in your Word and truth. God, may you be at the center of all my thoughts and decisions. May I revolve around you and your ways. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Let’s sing “More Like Jesus” (Passion). Click here.
– JP