Weekend Sermon -- Romans 12:2

     Thank you for taking the time to read the Weekend Sermon. I am glad to be able to post this sermon. I pray that everyone is having a good week.
     I have to start this week by asking for your prayers. It is raining very hard. The place where I live is in a flood advisory. Please pray that this rain will shut down and there won't be any more problems. So far, my house doesn't have any flooding problems. Thank you for your prayers.
    In another matter, I believe that things are looking very good on the job front. Please pray that this will work out this week. I am optimistic.
    Please pray for those in Japan who were injured or suffered damage in the earthquake. Pray that those who have damage will get the help that they need quickly.
    Continue to pray that all of the fires will be extinguished in the western part of the United States. Some of the fires are under control, but some are still raging.
     Let us all continue to pray for peace. Please be in prayer for Syria, Yemen, Libya, Afghanistan and South Sudan.
     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in Oman and Chad. Pray that many will hear about the love of Jesus.
     Starting last week, we are in a series of messages on the last few chapters in the book of Romans. We looked at Romans 12:1 last week. This week, our focus will be on Romans 12:2 which states, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds. Then you will be able to test approve what God's will is -- His good, pleasing and perfect will."
     Let's look at the first phrase. We are not to conform to this world's pattern. When we came to know Jesus as Savior and Lord, the Bible says that we became new creations in Christ Jesus. All of the old had passed away. All has become new. We have moved from an old way of thinking and behaving into a new pattern of thought and behavior.
     When I think about what it means not to conform to this world's way of thinking, the first thing that comes to my mind is the world's understanding about sin. The world in which we live in today approves of many things that are contrary to the teachings of the Bible. The ethical principles regarding sexual ethics that this world holds are contrary to the Bible's ethical principles. According to what this world teaches, sexual relationships outside of marriage are considered to be acceptable. The Bible is quite clear that sexual relationships are only allowed between those who are married. This is just one area that one can think about as to how the way the world thinks is contrary to the revealed will of God.
     Another area that comes to my mind when I consider the pattern of the world is the way that the world views success. According to the principles of this world, success is achieved when a person has a lot of possessions, makes a lot of money, or has what is considered to be a good career. This is not the definition of success that the Bible teaches. The Bible teaches that a successful person in the eyes of God is a person who serves the Lord in spite of anything that might come his way.
     I always think about the parable of the rich man and Lazarus when I think of the world's view of success vs. God's view of success. The rich man seemingly had it all. He had made it. However, he found himself in hell. On the other hand, Lazarus was poor and homeless. However, he went to heaven. Which one of these two men had the ultimately successful life?
     The ways of the world are not God's ways. He has a different way of thinking. In Luke 16:15, Jesus says, "What people value highly is detestable in God's sight."
     The last portion of Romans 12:2 tells us to renew our minds so that we will know what God's will is. The way that I understand this is that our minds are renewed when we think about things the way that Jesus did. We can see clearly from the way that Jesus acted and spoke in the Gospels what He thought about a number of different matters.
     As a believer in and follower of Jesus Christ, the goal is to allow Jesus to be the example in everything. He is the one that we look to to be our pattern of behavior. We are to follow His example. We are to follow His commandments and His teachings. When we do this on a consistent basis, our minds change so that we are not following the path of the world. We are transformed, and we are following the way of the Lord Jesus.
     We know what God's will is when we follow Jesus. Jesus was sent to show us the way. Following Jesus is God's will.
     The way in which we know what Jesus would have us to do is to read the words of Jesus in the Gospels. Pray every day, and ask the Lord Jesus to guide you and give you strength. Meditate upon His presence in your heart.
     Next week, we will continue with our study in the book of Romans.  On Monday, I will post the verses. On Wednesday, I will post the next chapter in the book about my friend Toby. May God bless you all. Amen.