It Starts Small

There is a lot in this verse to chew on!

Conformed

That word conformed is an interesting word. It is the transliteration of syschēmatizō. The Greek word meant: to conform one’s self (i.e. one’s mind and character) to another’s pattern, (fashion one’s self according to). Paul is telling us to not conform our mind and character to the pattern of this world. To not act according to this world’s philosophy. 

We need to recognize the pattern of this world inside of us. This world has a philosophy that goes against all of the Word of God and what He has for our lives. So what are we to do?

⁵ Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, Philippians 2:5

When we have repented and turned away from this world, we need to toss the world’s philosophy out of our hearts and adopt a new way of thinking, speaking, and acting. We need to adopt the attitude of Christ. What was the attitude of Christ?

⁶ who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited.
⁷ Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.
And when he had come as a man,
⁸ he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
Philippians 2:6-8

If we want to be the opposite of the world, we need to adopt the attitude of Christ by denying ourselves and not exulting ourselves as God. This means putting our pride down on the altar each day and refusing to go the way our flesh wants us to go. It means taking on the attitude of humility and servitude. 

What idols do you serve in your life? It can be an object like money or a person like a spouse. 

We need to lay our idols down and intentionally decide to serve and worship only God in our lives. To give Him the throne of our heart and serve Him. 

I know for many of us, how do we love God over someone we are in a relationship with? We put God first, always. When we do, our love for the other person will grow in depth as our love for God grows. 

We need to also live in obedience to God. We are either obedient to our flesh or God. We can not have both. We learn obedience when we spend a few moments of our day in His Word learning His truth. It is only by truth and believing God’s truth that we can be obedient to Him. 

Finally, to not conform to this world, be need to be humble. Humility is seen as a weakness in this world. Humility is not allowing people to use and abuse you, but it is the mind set to do things the way Christ taught us in the example of His life on earth. 

Transformed

Paul says, “Be transformed.” The Greek word here is metamorphoō. It is the word we get our English word, metamorphosis. It means to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure. Paul says to be changed by the renewing of our minds. 

Each day we have the opportunity to open the Word of God and be renewed in our minds. When we open His Word He gives us discernment to know what is pleasing, good, and His perfect will. We cannot know these things unless we brush the dust off our Bibles and study His Word. 

What does transformation look like?

It is God revealing a lie you believe about Him, yourself, or the world we live in. Fear is believing a lie the enemy told you. Fear is the source of our anxieties. DO you believe God’s promises and His faithfulness or is their doubt in your heart that God will do what He promises? When we accept what we believe is a lie and God’s Word is absolute truth, our mind is transformed. 

The lies we believe are like a bunch of caterpillars crawling in our mind devouring our peace and joy. As they devour our peace and joy the leave the waste of anxiety in us. But, when we chose to believe upon God and His promises He works those caterpillars into beautiful butterflies.

Perfect

One final thought to look at. What is your definition of perfect? Perhaps you are like me and think it means flawless. This is why I love the nerdy side of me. Perfect, in this verse is not what we think it means. Here it is the Greek word teleios. It means, brought to its end, finished, wanting nothing necessary to completeness.

When we turn from a conformity, having a worldly attitude and adopting the attitude of Christ, we are transformed to God’s completeness. We become HIS finished work. God does not expect us to be perfect. He only wants us to conform to Christ, so that in Christ His finished work in us can be completed. To do that, we need to set our heart’s attention on Him. Our minds need to focus on His Word so that in obedience we can allow Him to transform the world out of us and Him into us. 

There’s a lot to ponder in today’s scripture. 

What are some things you know you are conformed to in this world?

What are some of your own attitudes that you know reflect the conformity of the world?

Let us go to our Heavenly Father and pray for His help in transforming our hearts and renewing our mind with His Word to adopt the attitude of Christ. Let us make this year’s goal and priority to be intentional about getting into His Word and allowing Him to search our hearts.