February 28th, 2023
'
There is a spirit at work in the life of every follower of Jesus, the Holy Spirit. Paul details his own struggle between its counsel versus the desires of the flesh in Romans 7. Later, in Romans 12, Paul exhorts us to “be transformed.” He says, “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.” We see Paul issue two exhortations here: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world” (I.e. the wisdom of man/what the world says we should do, be, and think) and secondly, “be transformed.” He does not say “transform yourself,” as the world suggests. It is not a matter of our own willpower changing who we are. What he means is submitting to the awesome power of the Holy Spirit indwelling us. How do we do this? “By the renewing of your mind.” Deciding that God’s Word is the wisdom we will live by, the refuge we will take when the world tempts and berates us, and the hope we place our faith in, will grant us something in return: we will be able to see what God’s will is in our lives and in the world at large. Just like brooding over our problems will not allow us to see the solutions, so, too, will seeing our lives and the world through the lens of worldly wisdom prevent us from seeing God’s mighty hand in it. One can look at any time in history, especially these days, to see where worldly wisdom has landed us. One can look at anytime in their own lives to see how worldly wisdom has come up short. Today, resolve to turn from the so-called wisdom of the world and be transformed, by submitting to the counsel of the Holy Spirit within you which enables the renewing of your mind by God’s true and perfect Word, and results in the discernment by God’s wisdom of His will, not yours.
“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 12:2 NIV