Be Transformed: A Look at Romans 12:2
I am thankful that I can stand confidently knowing my God has won the war. But in this life, we still have battles to fight. Sometimes that battle includes fighting our own flesh. There’s a reason we’re told to be transformed in Romans 12:2. Today I look deeper at that reason and share some of my personal experiences.
I’ll be honest friends, yesterday was a fail for me. My little girl, Ivy continued to disobey and it’s like love and grace flew out the window. I didn’t direct her with love, but I let my frustration show.
My husband with his broken foot got on my nerves too. Like, how dare he need my help with anything? Doesn’t he know I have a crazy toddler screaming in my face? Doesn’t he know I want to rest too?
I continued to let my blood boil until I was in such a deep pit of anger towards my whole household that even the dog caught my wrath when he peed on the ottoman.
Maybe you relate to days like this. Maybe you even want to excuse my behavior and say, “girl we all have days like this, don’t be so hard on yourself.” But Christian, we are called higher than days like this. The King of the Universe CAN and WANTS to save us from days like this, why are we not stepping into His promises? Why are we choosing to roll around in the mud like a common pig rather than step into the palace of our King?
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
– Galatians 5:1
Choosing Transformation
Why was I able to do a full 180 today? Because as I was doing my daily bible reading (please be doing this if you are not already – here’s my favorite One Year Bible tool) I noticed all of the exhortations God wrote through Paul in Romans.
Particularly this one, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2, NKJV).
Yes, I am saved by grace. The book of Romans in particular is filled with verses explaining the amazing gift of grace. But the words in Romans 12:2 wouldn’t need to be here if this transformation just happened naturally. As my mind is renewed by the Word of God I need to transform my actions. God included this verse because we NEED to hear it and we NEED to do it. And he included many other verses throughout Romans (Romans 12:9 for example) exhorting us to live a certain way. Even saved by grace, we have choices.
Noah Chose Transformation
This had me thinking of Noah way back in Genesis. He wasn’t saved because he was good and perfect. He was saved because he trusted God. Just like us, he was saved by grace. But he still had to be transformed daily. He still had a sinful body just like us that was begging for attention. What we don’t always see in the bible is how people felt. I don’t think I’m too far out of line to say… I’m sure he woke up grumpy, angry, and irrationally bitter some days. He was a sinful human just like us. But what we see in the bible is what matters. He woke up every day and did not conform to the wicked world around him (or the wicked man in him). In submission, he woke up every day and built the ark.
If We Choose To Conform to the World We Miss Out On God’s Blessings
“Be Transformed” God says to us. I need to allow God’s word to transform me. I need to allow God’s grace to transform me. If I reject this and continue to conform to this wicked world, I’ll be missing out on the good things God has for me. If Noah rejected this and conformed to the world he would have missed out on the promises of God. He would have drowned in the flood along with everyone else (even though God gave him a way out).
Just like Noah, God gave us a way out too. My miserable attitude and lack of self-control yesterday didn’t make me happy. Yea I followed my feelings which is what this world preaches. But I was just drowning in a flood of anger and tried my best to pull everyone else in too. Wouldn’t I rather step into the perfect will of God? Wouldn’t you rather? Oh how much more joy we could have if we would transform our actions and mind to God’s will.
If you had a bad day like me yesterday, don’t feel condemned! Don’t give up! After reading Romans 12:2 this morning, I didn’t sit in self-pity. I sat at the Lord’s feet asking for forgiveness and HIS help. I sat and worshiped my HOLY and POWERFUL King! And now I’m excited to serve the Lord today. Fully understanding that it’s His strength I need if I want to be transformed.
More Bible Verses Exhorting us to Transform
To help round out this idea of being transformed as discussed in Romans 12:2, here are some more exhortations that call for transformation.
Romans 6:1-2 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”
Romans 6:12-13 “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”
Romans 8:13 “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
2 Corinthians 7:1 “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
Ephesians 5:1-2 “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”
Ephesians 6:10-11 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
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