See it like God does
“And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].”
Romans 12:2 Amplified Bible (AMP)
One of the reasons that we do not experience the success that God has for us is because we’re under the influence – intoxicated by the world. We’re living in the world but we need to be on our guard and not be like the world. We are living here as ambassadors from another kingdom; the kingdom of Heaven. The values of the world will most often contradict what God values. The values of the world are superficial – they have no real root, they are not healthy and cannot produce good fruit. The Bible says, don’t be like them.
We have too many Christians trying to fit in with the world – focusing on temporal things that will not last for eternity (2 Corinthians 4:18) and yet eternity is written in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). When we’re living for Jesus with eternity in mind, we are awakening to our true self. The world defines success differently than God does – we need to renew our minds to start thinking of success in terms of how God defines it.
“but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes]”
The world is trying to conform us to its mould to think and act like them, but we must actively renew our minds and start thinking like God thinks so that we can have God-kind-of-results. Your life is the result of the way you’re thinking (Proverbs 23:7) and so if you start thinking like God thinks, you’ll start to have God-kind-of-results, which is true success. If you’re conforming to the world’s pattern, then you are not mature spiritually. Spiritual maturity is marked by a progressive change in your life which comes as the result of changing your thinking and focus; shifting it from the world and its ways to God and His ways.
“so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].”
Romans 12:2 Amplified Bible (AMP)
One of the reasons that we do not experience the success that God has for us is because we’re under the influence – intoxicated by the world. We’re living in the world but we need to be on our guard and not be like the world. We are living here as ambassadors from another kingdom; the kingdom of Heaven. The values of the world will most often contradict what God values. The values of the world are superficial – they have no real root, they are not healthy and cannot produce good fruit. The Bible says, don’t be like them.
We have too many Christians trying to fit in with the world – focusing on temporal things that will not last for eternity (2 Corinthians 4:18) and yet eternity is written in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). When we’re living for Jesus with eternity in mind, we are awakening to our true self. The world defines success differently than God does – we need to renew our minds to start thinking of success in terms of how God defines it.
“but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes]”
The world is trying to conform us to its mould to think and act like them, but we must actively renew our minds and start thinking like God thinks so that we can have God-kind-of-results. Your life is the result of the way you’re thinking (Proverbs 23:7) and so if you start thinking like God thinks, you’ll start to have God-kind-of-results, which is true success. If you’re conforming to the world’s pattern, then you are not mature spiritually. Spiritual maturity is marked by a progressive change in your life which comes as the result of changing your thinking and focus; shifting it from the world and its ways to God and His ways.
“so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].”
As we mature spiritually by changing our thinking and lining it up with God’s Word and His heart, then we will start to discover His plan and purpose for our lives. It all starts with a relationship with God and growing in knowing Him.
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