Over the past couple of weeks, Paul’s writing to the church in Rome has been our focal point for the weekly study with the CRA team and guests who attend. We would love to have all our CRA family with us for the studies, along with enjoying the yummy deserts that follow. One never knows what tempting with ‘goodies’ will do in encouraging people to attend! LOL (However it’s true!)
In Romans 12:1 & 2 we read, “I beseech (urge) you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 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 & acceptable & perfect will of God.”
If we are NOT to be “conformed” to the “customs of this world…” what ARE WE to be like? Many have fallen prey, being willing to accept most any person in a position of authority…no matter voted in honestly or not! And, because of that, our freedoms are in danger of being lost forever! Our freedom is not only threatened by numerous evil individuals; that freedom enjoyed over past time is literally evaporating before our eyes! How did we get here?
For starters, big Pharma and the sellout to the mainstream media. Then the abuses of power tech giants and career politicians on both sides of the aisle is vividly present in helping to bring America down. Sadly, but in truth, the failure with this taking place is that we did it to ourselves while many were relaxing in front of the TV night after night, paying little attention to the reality of all that was being taken away from us. The news media…both TV and printed page has been a huge culprit, and many have embraced its “left leaning” destructive slant! We forget too quickly that freedom needs to be lived every day! Thanks to the numerous truckers who demonstrated for freedom as they drove across Canada to their Capitol, showing their peaceful protest against undue and unnecessary edicts placed on the people by over-zealous bureaucrats. One thing they accomplished was to have awakened a sleeping giant of millions more around the world who have now began to stand up for freedom. Either we fight for our freedom by standing against its takeover, or we will definitely lose it by becoming “conformed.”
One of the most tragic stories in the Bible of a man who had the opportunity to be “transformed,” yet failed the test, literally giving all away, by making the choice of being “conformed to this world” costing him much more than he ever dreamed he would ever pay! Here’s his story! “Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ the governor asked him. Jesus replied, ‘You have said it.’ Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd—anyone they wanted. ‘Which one do you want me to release to you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ The crowd shouted back, ‘Barabbas!’ Pilate responded, ‘Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ They shouted back, ‘Crucify him!’ So Pilate released Barabbas to them, He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Romans soldiers to be crucified.”
You and I also have a choice to make, in that either we remain “conformed to this world,” or we choose to be “transformed” by the “renewing of our mind.”
Blessings, Psalm 20:7 Dale & Jeannie