From Conformed to Transformed

From Conformed to Transformed

Romans 12:1, Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 

We have read this verse for years. It describes a process at work in you through Christ. It is NOT a “to do” list. God is working with you, where you are, as you are, with what you have now, to TRANSFORM (or transfigure) you! He doesn’t need any other ingredients other than you and Him!

You cannot conceive of what God empowered transformation will do in you, because the process has to be lived. 

Getting into the process of being positively transformed begins with recognizing how you are being negatively conformed. Conformity to unhelpful things is the biggest enemy to transformation in helpful things.

 

Conformed definition: Fashion alike, i.e. conform to the same pattern (figuratively):—conform to, fashion self according to. 

Conformity is often forced upon us or presented as “normal.” Conformity is often the price of acceptance by others.

Jesus faced it:

Luke 4:21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”

The people were astonished at the transformation in Jesus life, but could not accept it because, in their mind, he was only Joseph’s son. They did not know what was inside him. He was more than Jospeh’s son. He was not limited to doing what Jospeh did.

Note that what the people thought and said had no bearing on who Jesus was or what he did. You are the only person who can impose a limit on your transformation. 

Conformed also denotes instability. This verb has reference to that which is transitory, changeable, unstable.

Transform definition: To transfigure, to change into another form