Transformation

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 People have always been perplexed by the way Christians think. Words like “old-fashioned” or “strange” are often associated with us by people who quite frankly, are lost. Jesus tells us that the world will not know us because they did not know him (1John 3:1). Did you know a friend of the world is an enemy of God (James 4:4)? I trust you'd rather be on God's side, but you have to change how you think. You must literally change what you put into your mind or as the Bible so eloquently states: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..."(‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ NIV).

God is telling us that when we change how we think, we'll start to understand him more and the world less. If you’re not saved, your thought processes are worldly. You look at sex from the world's point of view so when God says no sex before marriage it sounds impossible. When God commands you to be sober minded and refrain from your fleshy desires it sounds like God doesn't want you to enjoy life. In actuality, God wants you to have life and to have it more abundantly (John 10:10) but you're enslaved by the world and your thoughts are worldly. 


The world will recognize you less because your ways are no longer its ways. You don't curse like everyone else; you're not materialistic or selfish. You respond to hate with love; and you're slow to anger and quick to forgive. But to become less worldly you have to stay in God's word. Jesus even makes a promise if you keep in his word: "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you" (‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭5-7‬ NIV). Just know that once you're transformed you'll no longer ask for the same things the old you would have asked for.


Think about it.

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