Renewed

"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 and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Romans 12:2

If you have been in church for any length of time, you may have heard this scripture. Growing up, in Sunday School, this was a memory verse, spoken over and over so many times until, when I read it in the Bible myself, I practically skip it because I "know" it. 

And yet, do I really? 

It becomes second nature to think I know a scripture just because I have it memorized. But what does it mean? 

Our society teaches us things from the time we are born. Some things are good: be kind, don't talk to strangers, look both ways before crossing a street.

But there are other ideas that get taught to us as well. Maybe they are not spoken aloud, but we still learn to think a certain way from our culture.. 

-children are hindrances to your life goals 

-marriage is destined to fail (50% divorce rate)

-living for God is a bunch of rules/ it is old fashioned

- God doesn't really care about your daily life 

- we don't have to take responsibility for our actions 

These are just  few that I have experienced in my own life or the lives around me. This scripture means that we are not supposed to subscribe to what the world teaches. That may make us different...but that is the point! We are to renew our minds from the ideologies that ensnare. We are to prove to the world that God's way works! That children are a blessing, and marriages can be beautiful and lasting, that God is loving and Christianity is not boring and outdated. 

Our minds should not be the cookie cutter version that society wants them to be. They are new in Jesus! Free to be accepted in the beloved and placed in such a place that we can be in the perfect will of God. How glorious! We are NEW. Brand spanking new! But we must be active in our newness. Don't think like everyone else. 

Think like Jesus.

Love like Jesus...

And we can prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God.