FAITHFULWORD.ORG | TEACHINGS

Romans 11:29-36; 12:1-21; Ephesians 4:21-24; Colossians 3:1-11; II Corinthians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 2:14-16; Philippians 2:5; II Corinthians 10:3-5; Proverbs 23:26; Psalm 119:32-36; 10:17; 27:14; Isaiah 57:15; I Thessalonians 3:1-5; Psalm 27:1, 14; Isaiah 40:8-31

As believers we should daily transform our lives with truth and not be conformed to this world. Romans 11 records that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. What God gives is His gift to us, but what we do with it is our gift to God. When we read of God’s mercy and grace, how He overlooked all the wrong, unworthy things in our lives but instead looked at His Son who fulfilled all things on our behalf to make us worthy, it is our logical response to present our lives as a sacrifice. Romans 12:1 records that it is our reasonable service. Reasonable means logical. Service is also translated as “worship.” Some people worship God by means of prayer, others by what they give — all of this is considered to be worship. It truly means that everything we think, say and do should be in true worship of God.

Romans 12 continues with the exhortation to not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Renewing is a continuous state. Every day is a new day for God’s people. When we do this, we prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. No one can do that for anyone’s life other than their own. This section of Romans concludes with “Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.” We cannot do that without God’s help. If we are being conformed to this world, we will have evil present with us and our tendency will be to render evil for evil. But when we are transformed, we will have good dwelling in us, and will be apt to overcome evil with good because that is who we are and what is in our hearts and mind. II Corinthians 10:3-5 contain some important truths on what to put in our minds daily. We are to cast down reasonings and anything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

The Word of God is very black and white. We will either be conformed or transformed. We are exhorted to put off the old man and put on the new man. It is up to us to set our own course with specific purpose. Goals are good and there are five “D’s to accomplishing them: (1) Decision — we make the decision by looking at the Word, then looking at our lives to determine what we want; (2) Desire — once we have made the decision, God will honor it and give us the desire we need. Desire does not come first, but follows decision; (3) Details — This is the step-by-step information we need to carry out the decision; (4) Discipline — No one can discipline anyone but themselves; and (5) Deliverance — This is the desired result, the end goal.

Someone once said, “Vision without action is merely a daydream.” Discipline, a characteristic of a disciple, requires effort and determination. The Bible utilizes analogies of athletes, soldiers and farmers to teach us what is required for change to take place. Any change that transforms our lives with the truth requires God’s help, guidance, strength and abilities in us. We can live the new life in Christ by utilizing the basic principles in God’s Word, but only with His help. We can daily be transformed and renewed by His word, living the way God would have us to live as new creations.