Oct 25, 2016
Life on Mission: Be Transformed!
by Conference President, Patti Wethington
Romans 12:2: “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.”
As I’m committing to memory the scripture verse for this month (October) my thoughts paused on the words “not conform” … “be transformed.” The patterns of this world are ever shifting, daunting, and consuming. There are constant conflicts that we are faced with and the choices that face us are continual and ever present. We can know that there is danger in giving in to the temptations of the world and all this to just feel “normal” in our present culture. 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.
In Psalms 1:1-3 David wrote, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” We are faced with a choice today. We can either decide to give in to the patterns of selfishness and self-desires — or we choose to yield good fruit by responding to God’s Word, allowing it to guide us and help us grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18)
This weekend in our service, Pastor JR spoke about vital connections that are important and crucial if we are going to have a renewed mind and spirit in God’s service. We reflected on the essentials of being in a vital connection with God — an open channel through mental communication, thought, and prayer; being plugged in so the circuit can cycle around all day long. The second is simply reading God’s well-preserved, faultless Word — being a “Bible-craving Christian” to fill our appetite with spiritual food.
As these two essentials are constant requirements for an alive Christ-follower, I reflected on another message I heard not long ago that challenged me to think differently and be open. Be transformed. The message first suggested that “we need to be willing, on a moment-by-moment basis, to offer ourselves to God and to allow His Holy Spirit to expose what He wants in us.” This is an act of faith and not one that we necessarily express through feelings. Psalms 139: 23-24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Oh how much God loves us and wants a willing offering.
Secondly, I remember that a crucially important attitude we need to embrace each day is that of being willing to continually deny ourselves — willing to set aside our own “justified” feelings, our own rights, our own frustrations, offenses, and anything that is not of faith, to do His Will. This is something that we do on the “inside.” This is not always easy when we feel justified by the world’s standards to react or attack in certain situations. In this example, I’m reminded of Proverbs 10:19: “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”
Finally, I reflected on the important mindset we must have in order for our lives to be transformed — that being one who is willing to obey God’s Will, no matter what He tells us to do. No matter how we feel, what we think or what we want, we are to be willing to get up and do exactly what God has asked us to do. 2 Corinthians 8:11 reminds “Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means (ability).” Often I need to chase this thought with a prayer, “Lord, make me willing to be willing,” because it’s easier to ignore the will of God and the needs of others to favor myself.
In desiring to live my Life on Mission for God, there are three thoughts that come to mind when considering daily transformation of our mindset to focus on God’s perfect will. Contemplate offering oneself daily: “Lord, I desire to respond to your purpose, cause me to not make myself more important or press my will even if I have the right to, and may I be willing to obey Your leading in my life.”
