In our last devotion we learned that God demands Christians to separate themselves unto Him through personal sanctification. We also were shown specific ways by which are to separate from the world. Today we wish to discover how Christians can to separate themselves from this world and unto God.
We begin with these words of Paul to the Roman Christians. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 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, acceptable, and perfect will of God.†Romans 12:1-2
In verse 1 Paul instructed Christians to “present your bodies a living sacrifice.†We should first understand that our “body†is the whole person: body, soul and spirit. The word “present†here means to give or to yield. Christians are to give themselves wholly to God for His service and use.
In verse 2 Paul admonishes Christians to “be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…†Christians are not to conform themselves to this world. That means we are not to pattern ourselves after the people of the world. I wish it were not true but it seems that Christians are copying the attitude and ways of the world more and more.
To combat conformation to this world we are told to “renew our mind.†How do we renew our mind? We bring our thinking, both morally and spiritually, in line with the Word of God. Naturally, in order for us to do that we must first know the Word of God so that we can direct our thinking. Again, it seems increasingly noticeable that Christians have the same mind as those of the Word.
I believe that constant application of Romans 12:1-2 will make separated Christians for God and Christ. However, I also believe that we cannot transform and renew ourselves without proper assistance. That assistance is found in:
1. The Holy Spirit. “…Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.†Galatians 5:16 If we let the Holy spirit lead us we will not conform to the world and our mind will be more Christ like. We will agree with God, Christ and the Word.
2. God’s Word. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.†John 17:17 Jesus prayed this to the Father. According to Jesus the Word of God will sanctify us (make us holy) and provide us with the truth. The more of the Word we have in us the less we will be conformed to the world.
Today we saw how Christians are to separate themselves from the world and where our help is for accomplishing it. Much has been said about Christian separation. Tomorrow we will note the importance of Christian separation. Until then may GOD BLESS YOU…