Romans 12:2 - Transformation: Glimpses Into How It Is Done.
Romans 12:2 (NIV) 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 (NLT) Dont copy the behavior
and customs of this world, but let God transform
you into a new person by changing the way you
think. Then you will learn to know Gods will for
you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
COMMENTARY PEARL
A ''Renewed Mind'' Is Essential
Is it possible to think so much like
Christ that our minds operate on a different plane
than those of others around us? Not only is it
possible - its essential!
The familiar words in Romans 12:1-2 need
to be reviewed.
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I
plead with you to give your bodies to God because
of all he has done for you. Let them be a
living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will find
acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.
Dont copy the behavior and customs of this world,
but let God transform you into a new person by
changing the way you think. Then you will learn to
know Gods will for you, which is good and
pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:1-2
In his letter to the believers in Rome,
Paul drops to his knees, as it were, and pleads
with these believers to present themselves to God
as living sacrifices. He then offers a warning:
stop allowing the world to be your standard for
the way you live and think!
Stop being squeezed into that mold! Quit
aping the system of thought that surrounds you!
Reject its line of reasoning, its method of
operation, its style and techniques! How? By pursuing a
radical transformation from within. By allowing the
Spirit of God to transform your thought pattern.
And what will happen if you do? You will
demonstrate authentic godlikeness.
Living differently begins with thinking
differently. A life that is characterized by serving
others begins in a mind that has become convinced
of the truth of Gods Word.
Do you long to live the Christian life as
God intends? Start surrendering to His Word
today. Believe His Word and let Christ take the
lead. I dare you to do so! [Chuck Swindoll
www.insight.org.]
COMMENTARY
A New Soundtrack for Your Life
Heres some good news: Your brain
stores everything. But its also bad news: Your
brain stores everything. Your brain cant
distinguish between whats imaginary and whats
real. It takes in both truth and lies.
You have stored all kinds of garbage in
your brain. And whether you realize it or not,
often you base your decisions upon that garbage.
When you were a child, adults said things
you believed without question because they were
authority figures. Maybe they said you werent good
enough or you wouldnt amount to anything in
life. They were lies then, and theyre lies now.
But you believed them anyway!
You need to change the soundtrack
thats playing in your mind. Instead of playing
something based on lies, you need to play the truth of
Gods Word.
Romans 12:2 says, Let God transform
you into a new person by changing the way you
think (NLT). How do you change the way you think?
You play a soundtrack of truth.
Ask God to heal your memories. Tell God,
I need you to heal these memories of
rejection, sin, resentment, guilt, and abuse. They
hurt. Please heal me.
Fill your mind with Gods Word. The
more truth you put in your mind, the more lies
you push out. Instead of spending all your time
watching television and listening to music, fill your
mind with Gods Word.
Gods Word says youre lovable (John
3:16), capable (2 Peter 1:3), valuable (Luke 12:6),
forgivable (Psalm 103:12), and usable (Ephesians
4:12).
Let that message become the soundtrack of
your life, and God will transform your mind.
[Daily Devotional by Rick Warren:
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/ re 2 Corinthians 10:5]
Walking in Gods Will
Some people are running around today
trying to get a direct revelation from God. They
want the Lord to give them a word from Heaven:
Do this... Turn right... Turn left.
Yet most of the time when I find myself
in the middle of the will of God, it isnt
because I heard a word from the Lord. Rather its
because I was simply living by the Word of God,
applying biblical principles.
Daniel, for example, needed the
interpretation to King Nebuchadnezzars dream. He had a
good biblical template to follow, which was the
story of Joseph from Genesis.
Joseph, too, had the ability to interpret
dreams. He was thrown in prison on false charges,
and while he was there the Pharaoh had a dream
that no one could interpret. So Pharaoh sent for
Joseph, who told him what his dream meant. As a
result, Pharaoh placed Joseph in a position of
influence.
This brings up a simple point: the Bible
tells us how to live. This is why we need to know
the Bible. Its why we need to study the
stories of the Bible and the teachings of the Bible.
And its also why we need to memorize passages
from the Bible.
When we do this, we start learning how to
think biblically. Because the best way to know the
will of God is to know the Word of God.
So when a situation comes up, you think,
Wait, theres a story in the Bible I just read
that had a very similar situation. Im going to
apply that here. Or, I just thought of a
verse I memorized that applies to this
situation.
As you apply Gods Word, as you live
biblically, youll find that youre walking in
Gods will. [Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries;
https://www.harvestdaily.com re Psalm 19:8]
CLOSING THOUGHTS
God has given us the power of choice; it
is ours to exercise. We cannot change our
hearts, we cannot control our thoughts, our
impulses, our affections. We cannot make ourselves
pure, fit for Gods service. But we can choose
to serve God, we can give Him our will; then He
will work in us to will and to do according to
His good pleasure. Thus our whole nature will be
brought under the control of Christ.
Through the right exercise of the will,
an entire change may be made in the life. By
yielding up the will to Christ, we ally ourselves
with divine power. We receive strength from above
to hold us steadfast. A pure and noble life, a
life of victory over appetite and lust, is
possible to everyone who will unite his weak,
wavering human will to the omnipotent, unwavering
will of God. MH176, 177
The power of Christ alone can work the
transformation in heart and mind that all must experience
who would partake with Him of the new life in
the kingdom of God In order to serve Him
aright, we must be born of the divine Spirit. This
will purify the heart and renew the mind and give
us a new capacity for knowing and loving God.
It will give us willing obedience to all His
requirements. This is true worship. {Mar 370.3}
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
Romans 12:2 - Transformation: Glimpses Into
How It Is Done.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210102-1046.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
https://www.revelationnow.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
