Be Ye Transformed, Part 3

Be Ye Transformed, Part 3

"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. 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." Romans 12:1, 2
Now that you have presented your body a living sacrifice, now that you have been born again, now that you have been filled with the Holy Spirit, now that you are living a life of holiness let us continue the transformation process and begin the next phase of the new life – renewing your minds. Why do we have to have our minds renewed? To "re" something means that that thing has to be returned to it’s original state. Once we have a new mind, somewhere along the way we lost it. Now it has to be "re" newed. But first we have to go back to the Garden. It is in the book of Genesis where we can find how we lost our minds. In Genesis we learn that God formed man from the dust of the ground. He then put into man a part of Himself – His Spirit. Man then became a living soul. A soul that was alive because of the living Spirit of God on the inside of him. Man was now in the image and likeness of God. Man had the nature of God. His thoughts and actions were like his heavenly Father. One day, listening to satan, man disobeyed God sin entered the picture and man took on a new nature. The nature of satan. Man lost his original mind and no longer thought and acted like God the Father. From that point on God has been trying to get man back into the Garden. Back into fellowship with Him. Man was lost, but God had a plan of salvation. So“when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians 4:4-5).

So what does it take to get our minds back? What does it mean to be transformed by the renewing of our mind? Transform means to change in form, appearance, or structure; metamorphose. To change in condition, nature, or character. Renewing the mind is not by outward disconformities to the ungodly world, many of whose actions in themselves may be virtuous and praiseworthy; but by such an inward spiritual transformation as makes the whole life new-new in its motives and ends (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary). Years of thinking a certain way makes it hard to change. Someone once said that old habits die hard. In our own strength we don’t have the power to change. But with the Spirit of God empowering us we can change and be changed in the image and likeness of God. Transformation begins with repentance. To repent means to change your mind. When we change our minds and let God’s thoughts (word) become our thoughts we can fulfill our original purpose/destiny. Our changed thoughts will lead to changed habits. Our changed habits will lead to changed lifestyles. Our changed lifestyles will lead to a changed destiny.

My friend, the Spirit works with God’s word to transform and renew your mind. You have to do your part and read your Bible on a daily basis and then ask the Holy Spirit to give you the power to obey God’s command. Little by little the word will "be made flesh" and will begin to show up in your lifestyle. Let His thoughts be your thoughts today.