"Don't 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 God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12:2 NLT).
When you become a Christian, God wants to renew your mind and transform your character into an excellent one with His Word. That's what the opening Scripture is referring to; it shows us God's mind. God wants you to no longer copy the behaviour and ways of this world; He wants you to be transformed into a new person; a new person that walks in ways that are good, pleasing and perfect to Him. But how's that transformation going to happen? He says, "...let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think." (Romans 12:2 NLT). This shows us a spiritual principle for changing your character and lifestyle: You must change the way you think; in other words, "Renew your mind!"
"What's wrong with behaving and living like this world?" someone would ask. There are many things that are wrong with living and behaving like this world. First of all, it's important that you know how God views this world and its behaviours and ways. The behaviours and lifestyles of this world are corrupt and displeasing to God. In one place, He described this generation as an unfaithful and sinful generation (Mark 8:38). What a terrible description. As His children, God wants our behaviour and ways to line up with His. That's why He's given us His Word to renew our minds with, and as a result of renewing our minds our behaviour, ways and lifestyles will be transformed—changed—into excellent and glorious ones! Then we'll find ourselves living in purity and righteousness before God, and pleasing Him in our ways because that's what we were created for (Revelation 4:11).
Ephesians 4:22-24 shows us more important truths from God's mind about how we should live and conduct ourselves as Christians; it says: "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." (NIV). He shows us that we are to put off our "old self" and let go of our former way of life. Why should we do so? Because our way of life before we became Christians wasn't built in God and so it's corrupt, wrong and sinful before God. Once again, He tells us to be renewed in the attitude—character—of our minds in order for us to be transformed into the "new self" which is created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (purity and uniqueness). As you renew your mind with God's Word and let go of this world's ways of thinking and living, transformation will take place in your character and lifestyle, and you'll find yourself living out and fulfilling God's destiny for your life!
Learn to start taking the Word of God seriously in your life and let it renew and transform your thinking, character, lifestyle and ways. As you do so, you can expect the glory, beauty, success and excellence of God to be revealed in your life. You will find yourself obtaining excellent results in and with the things that you do. The quality of your life will improve tremendously, and you'll find that you're not only living a joyful, fulfilling and inspiring life, you and your life will also be sources of inspiration and joy to others!
Share this Divine Update with someone else today and help them to live in the liberty and beauty of God's love, blessings and provisions.