Be not conformed (Detroit, MI)

Be not conformed

Romans 12 2 Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that by testing you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect. The word for conformed as used in the command to not be conformed to this world could better be rendered do not let the world squeeze you into its form so we are told to not let the world conform us or shape us but rather be transformed by a renewing of the mind and this is important so we can discern what is the will of God and what s good and acceptable and perfect for us. It s not our peers who should mold us into their image but be molded or shaped into the image of an obedient follower of Christ. Proverbs 13 20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise but the companion of fools will suffer harm. We know that whoever we associate with we tend to become like and if we re associating ourselves with Christ we ll become wise. We know that wisdom tends to rub off so why not walk or associate with those who are wise meaning biblically wise. The only other choice is to suffer harm from being the companion of fools (or those who don t have the Spirit of God). Psalm 1 1-2 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked nor stands in the way of sinners nor sits in the seat of scoffers but his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night. To walk with someone means you are in agreement with them just as the Prophet Amos wrote Do two walk together unless they have agreed to meet (Amos 3 3). If you are walking with ungodly people then you are saying you are in agreement with them. I mean by walking with the ungodly that you are going where they are going doing what they are doing and thinking what they are thinking. The godly should not walk in the counsel of the wicked and not stand in the way of sinners and sit with the scoffers probably meaning those who scoff at God. Proverbs 1 10 My son if sinners entice you do not consent. Peers can easily persuade us into doing things we know that are wrong. When everyone else around them is living in sin they can easily become ensnared in it. We can t let sinners entice us into doing things that are contrary to God s law. It s so easy to do if we continue to listen to sinners and more so when we walk with them. Continue to study the Bible completely cover to cover.