Dave’s Monday Blast – October 17, 2016
Last week we began to unpack 3 Keys to Experiencing God’s Best for our Lives from Romans 12:1 & 2. In essence, we must make a choice every day to either be conformed to this world or to be daily transformed into the image of His Son; which is the very purpose for our existence. (Ephesians 2:10) One choice is all about the temporal…the other is all about the eternal. INTENTIONAL men know what choice the Father wants them to make.
Last week in review:
- Put Christ on the Throne: Romans 12:1 tells us that to be a Christ-Follower is to enthrone Christ. It is to make Him the King of our lives. This is “the good and acceptable and perfect will of God” for each of us.
- Stop Following the Influence of our Culture: Romans 12:2 is a direct command, “stop being conformed to this world!”
New this week:
- Seek the Mind of Christ: Once you have chosen to enthrone Jesus, and made the choice to refuse cultures’ influence, you can begin the process of transformation. The second part of Romans 12:2provides the means to rejecting culture and enthroning Christ, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind”. ‘Transformed’ translates a Greek word meaning to be made over, to be changed from the inside out. If you give your mind to God in prayer, Bible study, worship, and other spiritual disciplines, you position yourself to be transformed by His Spirit. The decision to do this can be difficult; the practice is just plain hard work!
When you take these three steps every day, you will be able to discern and follow God’s “good and acceptable and perfect” will. ‘Good’ means that which works well in practical experience, ‘acceptable’ refers to that which brings delight and joy; ‘perfect’ means that which brings complete fulfillment and purpose. In other words, you will experience God’s best for your life, every day.
Jim Denison says, “Note that God’s call transcends circumstances. There are no exceptions or loopholes here. If we crown Christ our King, refuse the influence of culture, and give our minds to Jesus, the Spirit will lead us into God’s perfect will for us. Always.”
With this consequence my friends: we will become catalysts for cultural transformation. We cannot expect the fallen world to want what we offer if it is no different than what they have. If they don’t see Jesus in us, why would they want Jesus in them? That is a great question? So…this week I encourage you to work on the renewal of your mind.
