Conforming versus transforming – 2024.05.27
Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
God has called us who believe for a reasonable service. In the Defender’s Study Bible it is explained as follows: reasonable service. ‘“Reasonable” is the Greek logikos, from which we derive our word “logical,” and “service” is the Greek latreian, referring to service as a priest. We have been made “an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1Pe 2:5), and it is perfectly logical that we render such lifelong service. ‘ We therefore in our priestly service to GOD we present our bodies as a living sacrifice. Here the Defender’s Study Bibles explains “living sacrifice. The key to real Christian living is dying to the world and living unto Christ. This great theme appears repeatedly throughout the New Testament.” Have a read of the whole chapter of “Romans 12” and see the practical outworking of this.
To live in that way we are exhorted to not conform to this world. When people look at us and our actions it should not match that of the world. For example the world would seek revenge if hurt but we are so seek peace. “Romans 12:17-18 (KJV) Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”. In regard to this world it says in “1 John 2:15-17 (KJV) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” The will of GOD is that believe in Jesus Christ and the work on the cross. This results in us not loving the world anymore but loving GOD resulting in pleasing Him.
That is why it says “be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”. Let’s compare confirming to transforming. One can conform to things but deep down inside one can rebel. In other words outwardly one looks like going along with it but it does not mean the heart is in it. On the other hand transforming happens on the inside and then becomes evident on the outside. This is what GOD does by renewing our mind through His word. It is an ongoing process while we are here on earth resulting in less conformity to the world and more transformation. This process is called sanctification. “ John 17:17 (KJV) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” Ephesians 5:26-27 (KJV) explains how Jesus does this and the result of it “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
Therefore be encourage to let the LORD Jesus Christ transform us more and more through His word and thereby less and less conforming to the world so we can live out more and more what He says in His word in like the instructions in Romas 12. That people might see that we belong to GOD and reflect Jesus more and more as a witness. “John 13:34-35 (KJV) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

NOTE:
If you like to read up more on following Jesus have a look at many of the previous devotions like:
The blessings of remembering and obeying – 2024.05.24 https://missioncommunities.network/2024/05/24/the-blessings-of-remembering-and-obeying-2024-05-24/