Conform No Longer to This World

Readings:
Esther 1
Romans 12:1-2

Focus:
Romans 12:2a: "Conform no longer to the pattern of this present world, but be transformed by the renewal of your minds."

Frequently it seems that in order to live according to what the Bible says, we have to be different from the rest of the world, and that may make us feel strange, or appear strange to others. We worry that maybe we're wrong. But my husband often says that followers of Jesus are living right-side up in an upside-down world. It's the rest of the world that's really wrong.

One of my friends has a daughter who just graduated from college. Her first job? She's not in some lucrative fast-track corporation management position. She is living in India as an intern for International Justice Mission. This worldwide group's aim is to rescue people who are held in bondage. Some are sex slaves. Some are enslaved as workers at brick factories. My friend's daughter is working to help free people because she's a servant of Jesus, and she does not conform to the pattern of this present world.

We don't all have to go work in international missions (although we should send money to support some of those who do). But we can start conforming to God's pattern by living our day-to-day lives for him. We can make little decisions such as not saying the angry or unkind words we are tempted to say, or forgiving instead of holding a grudge. We can be transformed.