"CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD"

Most of us know one or two groups of people, who when they gather together, assume a front that is not at all real. They are super pious. They are not normal and they are not natural. But if you want to hear gossip, you can meet with that group! The child of God ought not to be like that!

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Romans 12:2

As a child of God, we ought to be normal and natural ~ or perhaps better said, normal and "super"natural. It is so easy to play a part! That is what the word hypocrite really means. "Hupokrites" is the Greek word for actors. In acting it means to get your cue and to say the right thing at the right time. In our daily lives hypocrisy is to seem to be something we are not. I have learned over the years that some people who flatter you to your face, smile, and pat you on the back, will be the first to turn on you! They are conformed to this world as they "fake" their way through life, unjustified not only to themselves, but to others as well.

"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made comformable unto his death." Philippians 3:10

Often people get the impression that being saved by faith means there is no motivation for conduct and works. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Saving faith is a faith that "moves" you. James said, ". . . shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works" (James 2:18). My friend, if you have been saved, your works should be seen by all. If you don't have works, you are not saved. You are still conformed to this world. If you have been saved by faith you should have a new motivation, a new life purpose, a new life-style. And if your faith in Christ hasn't changed you, you haven't been saved. You are still just the same person producing the same life conduct ~ conformed to the world!

"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." Romans 8:29,30

Predestination means that when God saves you, He is going to see you through. Whom He foreknew, He predestinated. He called, and whom He called, He justified, and whom He justified, He glorified. In other words, this amazing passage is on sanctification ~ yet Paul does not mention being sanctified. Why? Because sanctification is the work of God in the heart and life of the believer. This is God's eternal purpose. It just simply means this: When the Lord ~ who is the Great Shepherd of the sheep, the Good Shepherd of the sheep, and the Chief Shepherd of the sheep ~ starts out with one hundred sheep, He's going to come home with one hundred sheep! He will not lose one of them!!

Application: Motivate your lfe in a way to live for God consistently. Do not be conformed to this world and its sinful ways. Stop and think for a moment, what the coming of Christ means ~ Some may think, "Boy, it will get us out of this world" ~ But isn't it better to believe, "It will get me into His presence?"

Today's Devotion: "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart." Ephesians 4:17,18

God Bless You All as you step forward with courage to proclaim Jesus as Savior and Lord in today's society.